Author: damazah@gmail.com

TAYO OGUNBIYI contends that the sporting event will provide a national platform for young athletes to compete, and gain visibility Nigeria first participated in the Olympic Games in 1952 and has since sent athletes to compete in all Summer Olympic Games, except for the boycotted 1976 Summer Olympics.  Perhaps the peak of the country’s success in the Olympic Games was in 1996 when the national U-23 football team won the gold medal in the soccer event at the Games held in Atlanta. However, the nation is currently experiencing a declining fortune in the sporting arena. It is sad that a…

Atahualpa, the last Incan emperor, was seized by troops in 1532 during the Spanish Conquest, but smallpox had already devastated the Inca Empire around 1524–1528.Credit: Florilegius/AlamyMore than 400 years ago, two people living in modern day Chile died while infected with the smallpox virus. Viral DNA found in their mummified remains has now yielded genetic evidence of when the disease arrived in the Americas.The findings, published on 30 July in Science1, confirm that Orthopoxvirus variola — the virus that causes smallpox — arrived in the Americas from Europe. The study adds to a small but growing body of evidence that…

Key eventsWales’ Emma Finucane wins gold in women’s sprintEmma Finucane leads the way in the women’s sprint, not letting Sophie Capewell out of her sight … Finucane leads as we enter the final lap and Capewell can’t get past her at any point. Wales’ Finucane goes 2-0 up to earn another gold medal.Emma Finucane of Wales celebrates winning gold in the women’s sprint. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PAShareUpdated at 20.29 CESTTrack cycling: Wales’ Rhian Edmunds is 1-0 up against Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri as they fight for bronze in the women’s sprint – Edmunds gains on the final straight to win the…

Chase Infiniti is too humble to use this vernacular, but prepare to be sick of her (in the best way possible). After scoring Actor and Golden Globe nominations for her first lead role in a feature film for One Battle After Another this past Oscar season, Infiniti has now received an Emmy nomination for her first lead role in a TV series (and only her second TV role ever after appearing in David E. Kelley’s Presumed Innocent), which, at the very least, means more eye-catching red carpet fashion from her along the campaign trail. “I love that I get to…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said his call on the United Nations to investigate the May 15 abduction of school children and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state was not to diminish the efforts of security agencies. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 44 teachers and children kidnapped in three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire LGA were released on July 10 after 56 days in captivity. The kidnappers reportedly released the victims following heavy pressure mounted by operatives of security agencies including the Nigerian Army, Police, the State Security Service…

Michael Olugbode in Abuja The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday launched a comprehensive review of its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, admitting that while significant progress has been made in expanding human rights protection across Nigeria, implementation gaps, weak monitoring systems and limited institutional capacity continue to hinder the full realization of its mandate. The commission said the mid-term assessment marks a decisive effort to recalibrate its strategy midway into the four-year plan, with a renewed focus on improving access to justice, strengthening accountability and enhancing protection for vulnerable and marginalized groups. Opening a consultative stakeholders’ meeting on the presentation…

THAAD missile defence system. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system targets incoming ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. Target is destroyed using kinetic energy. 3d renderinggettyOn Monday, the Pentagon announced agreements with L3Harris Technologies and Lockheed Martin to expand weapons production capacity for components of two missile interceptors over the next seven years.Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, called the deals “a decisive win for the Warfighter, underscoring our commitment to sending clear demand signals to the entire supply chain.” The agreements are the latest in a slew of Pentagon deals to increase production…

More than 1,150 cases have been referred to the National Crime Agency (NCA)’s Cyber Choices scheme in the last eight years – nearly 600 of those were in the last three years.Authorities warn teenage hacking groups are playing an increasingly prominent role in serious cyber-attacks.Young, English-speaking hackers have been linked to attacks on major organisations including Transport for London (TfL) and MGM Grand in 2024, and Marks & Spencer and the Co-op in 2025.Individuals are also being increasingly targeted in hacks for their cryptocurrency holdings.”It certainly has become more of a problem,” said Paul Foster, who leads cyber prevention work…

By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said that he’s not attacking the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, but asking the South-East people not to vote for him. He said that he had been proud to work for President Bola Tinubu’s reelection due to his infrastructural projects in Nigeria, especially in the South East zone. Umahi stated this during an inspection project Trans-Sahara highway and Legacy projects that cut across Cross River–Abuja. He said contractors had been directed to employ more local workers to maximise the economic benefits accruing to host…

Nine females and 10 males were introduced to the area by the Two Moors Pine Marten Project last year.