Author: straightnewsng.com

After wobbling start, Team USA have secured a fourth straight Olympic gold medal as they beat France 87-82 in Tokyo. It was the second time the two teams had met in the competition, with France having inflicted the USA’s first Games loss since 2004 in the group stage. However, Gregg Popovich’s favourites, who under-performed in the build-up, hit their stride when it mattered most. Kevin Durant was the USA’s standout player yet again, scoring 29 points. France made a late, fourth-quarter run, but came up just short as the US made their shots at crucial moments to claim a seventh…

Concerns have been raised as many vaccinated people hit by COVID-19 Delta variant have been hospitalised in England, scientists said on Friday. In its latest COVID-19 update, Public Health England (PHE) also warned there were early signs that people who have been inoculated may be able to transmit the Delta strain as easily as those who have not received any jabs. From July 19 to August 2, 55.1 percent of the 1,467 people hospitalised with the Delta variant were unvaccinated, PHE said, while 34.9 percent – or 512 people – had received two doses. Dubbed “freedom day”, July 19 was…

Brazil needed an extra-time winner to retain men’s Olympic gold with a 2-1 win over Spain on Saturday. The game headed into extra-time when Mikel Oyarzabal ruled out Matheus Cunha’s opener but former Barcelona man Malcom scored after 109 minutes to seal the win for Brazil. Brazil are the first nation to retain their Olympic crown since rivals Argentina won consecutive gold medals in 2004 and 2008. Brazil claimed their first ever Olympic gold in men’s football in Rio 2016 when Neymar scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Germany. Spain have to settle for the silver medal and…

At last, the five prospective members of National Youth Service Corps who perished in an auto crash have been laid to rest in their hometowns in Akwa Ibom and Imo States. The deceased, who were on their way to the NYSC camp in Katsina State, were involved in an auto accident along Abaji-Kwali Expressway, Abuja. Their remains were conveyed in a military plane and received by the bereaved families at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on Wednesday, August 4. The late Ms Stella Ekikoh, a graduate of Sociology and Anthropology of University of Uyo, hailed from Ekpemiong Itak and Mr…

Afenifere, a leading Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, says General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retired) lost the opportunity to becoming the father of a new Nigeria for annulling June 12, 1993 Presidential election result. Afenifere, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Sola Ebiseni, was reacting to IBB’s recent interview on Arise TV, where he said he annulled the election to prevent a violent coup d’etat. The group described the reason given by former military head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), then Nigerian military President, for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election result as an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.…

Big Brother Naija housemate says the show is a ticket to stardom as he was certain to become a star after leaving the house. Whitemoney said, “The day I pass that door is the day I become a star. The show has hundreds of millions of people streaming. “Truly, this is the biggest show in Africa but trust me, it is one of the biggest shows in the world.’’ Discussing with Beatrice and Boma on Saturday, day 14 of the show, he said he envisioned how the show would change his life. “Once you come out, you’ll be recognised worldwide.…

Akwa Ibom State Government has blamed high number of persons tested COVID-19 Delta variant on influx of people from neighbouring states without facilities for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The Coordinator for Covid-19 management, Dr. Dominic Ukpong who announced this during a press briefing in Uyo on Friday also blamed the rising number of cases on the attitude of most people. Ukpong who is also immediate past Commissioner for Health said in their continued disbelief about the existence of Covid-19, many have consistently ignored basic Covid-19 protocols and have therefore exposed themselves to the infection. “Following our invitation, we have…

By: Israel Umoh Otongaran  submits ”Rather, he drops hints of a leaking roof, the “plop” sound of rain on surfaces, rainwater diluting the beer the revelers were drinking, and dancers dashing off to escape the rain. He leaves the reader to fill in the blanks for his mosaic’.’ Not done, the journalist reminisces ‘’A similar elliptical design marks much of his poetry and plays. In the poem, “Massacre, October ’66,” for instance, in which Soyinka borrowed an “alien land/In brotherhood of ill” to mourn the tragedy that has befallen his people back home, he is pretty indirect in his references. ”He…

Striking resident doctors in Nigeria have given conditions to call off their indefinite strike that began on Monday, August 2, 2021. These include payment of outstanding doctors’ salaries and hazard allowances minimum, enrolment of doctors in the integrated personal payroll information systems, among others, as minimum conditions to call off their indefinite strike. The National President of The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, made this known on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme monitored by The PUNCH. According to him, Nigerians should hold the Federal Government and the Ministers of Health – Osagie Ehanire…

Nigerian Government plans to establish specialised courts for speedy trial of rape and gender-based violence offences in the country, Mr Abubakar Malami has said. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice stated this at the inauguration of the Justice for Children Coordination Forum on Thursday during the launch of the EU-UNICEF access to justice programme for children in Abuja. Malami, who was represented by Professor Muhammad Ahmadu, lamented the pathetic situation of some children in parts of the country. Professor Ahmadu is the Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Duties, Office of the AGF. “This…