TheNewsGuru

Tag: USA

  • COVID-19: Biden vacates White House for 1st time after emerging from isolation

    COVID-19: Biden vacates White House for 1st time after emerging from isolation

    The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, Sunday, vacated the White House for the first time since becoming infected with the coronavirus last month, settling in for a reunion with first lady Jill Biden in their home state of Delaware.

     

    Biden tested negative Saturday and Sunday, according to his doctor, clearing the way for him to emerge from the isolation that lasted longer than expected because of a rebound case of the virus.

     

    “He will safety return to public engagement and presidential travel,” Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote.

     

    “I’m feeling great,” Biden said before boarding Marine One outside the White House.

     

    COVID-19: Biden vacates White House for 1st time after emerging from isolation
    US President Joe Biden

     

    The Bidens were expected to spend the day in Rehoboth Beach, a popular vacation destination.

     

    Biden originally tested positive on July 21, and he began taking the anti-viral medication Paxlovid, which is intended to decrease the likelihood of serious illness from the virus.

     

    According to his doctor, Biden’s vital signs remained normal throughout his infection, but his symptoms included a runny nose, cough, sore throat and body aches.

     

    After isolating for several days, Biden tested negative on July 26 and July 27, when he gave a speech in the Rose Garden, telling Americans they can “live without fear” of the virus if they get booster shots, and test themselves for the virus if they become sick and seek out treatments.

     

    But Biden caught a rare rebound case of COVID-19 on July 30, forcing him to isolate again.

     

    He occasionally gave speeches from a White House balcony, such as when he marked the killing of an al-Qaida leader or a strong jobs report.

     

    He continued to test positive until Saturday, when he received his first negative result. While the president was isolating in the White House residence, the first lady remained in Delaware.

     

    The Bidens are scheduled to visit Kentucky on Monday to view flood damage and meet with families.

  • Comedienne, Helen Paul reveals secret to her academic success

    Nigerian comedienne, Helen Paul, has revealed the secret to her academic success.

     

    The entertainer, who recently announced her elevation as a professor at the Heart International Bible University, USA, said it helps when one is actively engaged in both practical and theoretical works in a university and society at large.

     

    “Whatever you do in your field of work would help in your career growth,” the comedienne said.

     

    According to her, the secret to her academic success was due to her contributions to humanity.

     

    Continuing the 44-year-old comedienne said, “For instance, Nike Art Gallery, a beautiful woman who is one of my mentors, her talent speaks for her both home and abroad to the extent of her getting recognized in universities not just in Nigeria but globally.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported that the comedienne bagged a Ph.D. in Theatre Arts from the Heart International University, USA.

     

    She is also a stand-up comedian, popularly known as Tatafo, characterized by a voice range that makes her sound like a child, and is the first among her Nigerian colleagues to bag a Ph.D.

     

    The academic could not hold back her excitement as she also announced her new appointment as the new H.O.D of the school’s arts, music and entertainment department

     

    The 44-year-old shared the good news in an Instagram post, where she posted photos of herself and her colleagues at the ceremony.

     

    Helen’s husband, Femi Bams, also bagged a Doctorate degree in law from the same institution of learning.

     

    Celebrating their latest achievements, Helen wrote: “Congratulations to us my love. Such a great honor for both of us. You graduated as a Doctor of law and I was promoted too. Professor Helen Paul, now the new H.O.D Department of Arts, Music and Entertainment. Heart International University USA. Thank you for all the sleepless nights. Thank you for sacrificing for us.”

  • Gregg Popovich breaks NBA winning record

    Gregg Popovich breaks NBA winning record

    73-year-old Gregg Popovich has broken the NBA career regular-season wins record as his San Antonio Spurs beat the Utah Jazz 104-102.

     

    The triumph was the 1,336th of Popovich’s career and saw him surpass NBA legend Don Nelson for total wins.

     

    Popovich, who has led the Spurs to five NBA titles, said the record was “testament to a whole lot of people”.

     

    Basketball is a team sport. All of us share in this record. It’s not mine. It’s ours.”

     

    Popovich, who worked under Hall of Fame coach Nelson at Golden State three decades ago, saw his Spurs side battle back from 15 points down in the final quarter to deliver the record-making win.

     

    The milestone victory was celebrated at home in front of fans who have cheered his sides on for more than a quarter of a century since taking charge of Spurs in 1996.

  • UN welcomes success against ISIL in Syria

    UN welcomes success against ISIL in Syria

    UN on Thursday expressed concern over reported civilian casualties but welcomed any move contributing to the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terror group in Syria.

    “The UN system as a whole has been very united in efforts to act against Da’esh, so any successes against them are to be welcomed,” the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq said.

    Haq spoke while reacting to a question at a news conference in New York, following an attack by U.S. Special Forces in northwestern Syria that culminated in the death of the leader of the ISIL terrorist network.

    Haq remembered that ISIL, also known by the Arabic term Da’esh, “has committed heinous crimes and brought tragedy to thousands of men, women and children.

    “We want to take this moment to remember the victims and families of victims of terrorism, everywhere in the world,” he said.

    According to news reports, at least 13 civilians, including women and children, died during the U.S. Special Forces operation in the Syrian border town of Atmeh.

    Regarding civilian’s casualties, Haq said the UN continued to call on all the parties to take all the necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

    “In the case of trying to determine responsibility for the casualties in the attack, it would be important to have an investigation,” he added.

    The U.S. raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who took over as head of the group in late 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a similar US operation.

    In a televised statement, U.S. President, Joe Biden, said al-Qurayshi had died as al-Baghdadi died, by exploding a bomb that killed himself and members of his family, including women and children, as U.S. forces approached.

    The operation came as ISIL had been on the offensive. Late in January, the group tried to seize a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 detainees affiliated to the group.

    President Biden said that al-Qurayshi had been the architect of the siege, which was repulsed by US-led coalition forces.

    According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), at least six children were killed and one girl was badly injured due to heavy violence.

    Since the year began, violence has heavily escalated in and around Idlib in Syria’s northwest, where 1.2 million children need assistance.

    Many families in the area are internally displaced, having fled violence in other parts of Syria over the years.

    In 2021, nearly 70 per cent of grave violations recorded against children in Syria occurred in the northwest.

    The acting UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Bertrand Bainvel, noted that this recent increase in violence came amid freezing weather conditions and record sub-zero temperatures in Syria and the region.

    “At least five Syrian children died in the north of Syria due to harsh winter conditions in the past two weeks alone,” he informed.

    Idlib province in northwestern Syria is the last rebel-held stronghold in the war-torn country, much of it under the control of former al-Qaeda-affiliate Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham.

  • U.S. FDA approves Cabenuva cabotegravir and rilpivirine for treatment of HIV

    U.S. FDA approves Cabenuva cabotegravir and rilpivirine for treatment of HIV

    The United State’s (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cabenuva cabotegravir and rilpivirine for every two months dosing for the treatment of HIV-1.

    This was disclosed by the U.S. HIV specialist pharmaceutical company ViiV Healthcare on Wednesday

    The treatment is for HIV in virologically suppressed adults on a stable regimen, with no history of treatment failure, and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

    ViiV Healthcare is majority-owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc, with Pfizer and Shionogi Limited as shareholders.

    Cabenuva is the first and only complete long-acting HIV treatment regimen and was first approved by the U.S. FDA in January 2021 as a once-monthly treatment for HIV-1 in virologic ally suppressed adults.

    The U.S. FDA approval allows Cabenuva to be dosed monthly or every two months.

    Long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine are approved for use every two months in Canada under the name Cabenuva and in the EU as Vocabria and Rekambys.

  • [See standings] U.S top medal table for third successive Olympic Games

    [See standings] U.S top medal table for third successive Olympic Games

    The U.S topped the Olympics medals table for the third successive time after ending the Tokyo Games on Sunday with a best 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals.

    American highlights included veteran Alysson Felix winning a gold medal in the 4×400 metres relay and a bronze medal individually to become their most decorated track athlete of all-time.

    In the pool, they also had massive success.

    This was through freestyle stars Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky, though she was beaten by upcoming Australian Ariarne Titmus in a couple of the shorter races.

    China, hosts of the Winter Games in 2022, were second in the table with a 38-32-18 tally while hosts Japan set a national record of 27-14-17.

    Great Britain had its least successful Games since Beijing 2008 but was still the top European nation on 22-21-22.

    The Russian team —— officially competing as neutrals due to a doping ban were fifth on 20-28-23.

    At the other end of the scale, minnows San Marino could celebrate an astonishing three-medal haul (0-1-2) from a delegation containing only five athletes.

    Burkina Faso had its first-ever Olympic medallist through triple jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango.

    Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    1 United States 39 41 33 113
    2 China 38 32 18 88
    3 Japan 27 14 17 58
    4 Great Britain 22 21 22 65
    5 ROC 20 28 23 71
    6 Australia 17 7 22 46
    7 Netherlands 10 12 14 36
    8 France 10 12 11 33
    9 Germany 10 11 16 37
    10 Italy 10 10 20 40
    11 Canada 7 6 11 24
    12 Brazil 7 6 8 21
    13 New Zealand 7 6 7 20
    14 Cuba 7 3 5 15
    15 Hungary 6 7 7 20
    16 South Korea 6 4 10 20
    17 Poland 4 5 5 14
    18 Czech Republic 4 4 3 11
    19 Kenya 4 4 2 10
    20 Norway 4 2 2 8
    21 Jamaica 4 1 4 9
    22 Spain 3 8 6 17
    23 Sweden 3 6 0 9
    24 Switzerland 3 4 6 13
    25 Denmark 3 4 4 11
    26 Croatia 3 3 2 8
    27 Iran 3 2 2 7
    28 Belgium 3 1 3 7
    29 Bulgaria 3 1 2 6
    30 Slovenia 3 1 1 5
    31 Uzbekistan 3 0 2 5
    32 Georgia 2 5 1 8
    33 Chinese Taipei 2 4 6 12
    34 Turkey 2 2 9 13
    35 Serbia 2 1 5 8
    36 Uganda 2 1 1 4
    37 Ecuador 2 1 0 3
    38 Ireland 2 0 2 4
    38 Israel 2 0 2 4
    40 Greece 2 0 1 3
    40 Qatar 2 0 1 3
    42 Bahamas 2 0 0 2
    42 Kosovo 2 0 0 2
    44 Ukraine 1 6 12 19
    45 Belarus 1 3 3 7
    46 Romania 1 3 0 4
    46 Venezuela 1 3 0 4
    48 India 1 2 4 7
    49 Hong Kong 1 2 3 6
    50 Philippines 1 2 1 4
    50 Slovakia 1 2 1 4
    52 South Africa 1 2 0 3
    53 Austria 1 1 5 7
    54 Egypt 1 1 4 6
    55 Indonesia 1 1 3 5
    56 Ethiopia 1 1 2 4
    56 Portugal 1 1 2 4
    58 Tunisia 1 1 0 2
    59 Estonia 1 0 1 2
    59 Fiji 1 0 1 2
    59 Latvia 1 0 1 2
    59 Thailand 1 0 1 2
    63 Bermuda 1 0 0 1
    63 Morocco 1 0 0 1
    63 Puerto Rico 1 0 0 1
    66 Colombia 0 4 1 5
    67 Azerbaijan 0 3 4 7
    68 Dominican Republic 0 3 2 5
    69 Armenia 0 2 2 4
    70 Kyrgyzstan 0 2 1 3
    71 Mongolia 0 1 3 4
    72 Argentina 0 1 2 3
    72 San Marino 0 1 2 3
    74 Jordan 0 1 1 2
    74 Malaysia 0 1 1 2
    74 Nigeria 0 1 1 2
    77 Bahrain 0 1 0 1
    77 Saudi Arabia 0 1 0 1
    77 Lithuania 0 1 0 1
    77 North Macedonia 0 1 0 1
    77 Namibia 0 1 0 1
    77 Turkmenistan 0 1 0 1
    83 Kazakhstan 0 0 8 8
    84 Mexico 0 0 4 4
    85 Finland 0 0 2 2
    86 Botswana 0 0 1 1
    86 Burkina Faso 0 0 1 1
    86 Ivory Coast 0 0 1 1
    86 Ghana 0 0 1 1
    86 Grenada 0 0 1 1
    86 Kuwait 0 0 1 1
    86 Moldova 0 0 1 1
    86 Syria 0 0 1 1
  • Nigeria could have been worse – Buhari’s aide, Onochie

    Nigeria could have been worse – Buhari’s aide, Onochie

    Aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie has said the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic could have been worse in the country if not for the President.

    The Personal Assistant to President Buhari on New Media stated this on Tuesday, comparing the impact of the pandemic in Nigeria to other countries.

    Onochie stated that the Nigerian President managed the pandemic well and was able to minimise the hardship occasioned by the pandemic.

    “I recently travelled to the United Kingdom. Some Major brand shops have closed down. Those open, have closed many branches. Some are now only online. I couldn’t find my desired mobile phone to buy.

    “People have lost and are still losing their jobs. I know and spoke to some people, who have lost their homes already. It’s a sad situation in the UK as it is in the USA. Prices have gone up. From about £8 an hour to hire a cleaner, its now £14 an hour. But they all rightly blame the Pandemic, not PM Boris Johnson nor Pres. Joe Biden.

    “Nigeria is part of the global community devastated by pandemic, but Nigeria is better than most. Let’s be supportive. Nigeria’s Pres. Buhari has managed and minimised the hardship occasioned by the pandemic. It could have been worse,” Onochie stated.

  • Olympics: US survive scare to down Spain in basketball quarters

    Olympics: US survive scare to down Spain in basketball quarters

    The US trailed by 11 points early in the second quarter but rallied strongly to reach the men’s basketball semi-finals at the Tokyo Games 95-81 over world champions Spain on Tuesday.

    Having suffered a rare loss in the group phase to France, the star-studded American side were soon under pressure again but led by Kevin Durant rallied to overturn their early deficit.

    The US pulled away in the third quarter having gone in level at 43-all and could eventually ease up with the tie won.

    Durant posted a best 29 points for the US while Spain’s Ricky Rubio ended on the losing side in spite a heroic 38.

    The US will meet Argentina or Australia in the semi-finals on Thursday.

    European champions Slovenia thrashed Germany 94-70 to set up a last four meeting with Italy or France.

    Superstar Luka Doncic contributed 20 points though teammate Zoran Dragic stole the show with 27, aided by five of seven shooting from the three-point line.

  • Over 3 decades after, Nigeria to reopen San Francisco mission in US

    Over 3 decades after, Nigeria to reopen San Francisco mission in US

    After over thirty years, the Nigerian government has said it will soon reopen its Consulate-General in San Francisco to provide consular services for the huge population of Nigerians residing on the West Coast of the United States of America (USA).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Gabriel Aduda made this known in New York on Monday.

    Aduda said the plan to re-open the mission, which was shut down in 1989, had reached “an advanced stage“.

    TNG reports the San Francisco, California, Consulate is a five-room, 4,250-square foot property owned by Nigeria.

    Aduda said: “We think rather than having Nigerians residing in California travelling to the East Coast or to the North Coast, they don’t have to travel that far.

    “The mission (San Francisco) is very important and in the next few months, before the end of the year, the mission will be running”.

    The permanent secretary said that the ministry and members of the National Assembly committees on Foreign Affairs had visited all the Nigerian missions in the US in June for on-the-spot assessment.

    “We visited the Embassy in Washington, DC, the New York Mission, the Atlanta Mission and we took a trip to San Francisco where we hope to re-open another mission that will service the West Coast,’’ he said.

    On the state of facilities in the Nigerian missions, Aduda said there was the need for the facilities to be maintained as some of them had been in existence for so long.

    “There is the need for upgrading, there is the need for routine maintenance and on the whole, service-wise, I think we were quite satisfied with what we saw at the missions.

    “You will see that there are changes in all the missions in the US, especially Atlanta and New York, when it comes to the services that are being rendered to Nigerians.

    “This is because, during the visit, it gave us the opportunity to discuss with the staff of the missions the new direction that the Federal Government is aiming,“ the said.

    The permanent secretary said most of the challenges presented by the staff were immigration-related and they were already being addressed.

    Aduda said Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was totally responsible for producing passports and that the shortage of passport booklets was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “COVID-19 slowed down a lot of things and we got a lot of backlog, so the inability to meet up is what created the problem in offering passport service to Nigerians abroad.’’

    The permanent secretary assured Nigerians living in the US of improved services on passport issuance.

    He said with the level of support the ministry was getting from NIS, the missions would not be talking about shortage of passport booklet by the end of the year.

    The permanent secretary said the Nigeria High Commission in London had a backlog of about 19,000 passports but had been cleared in three months.

    He said another batch of passport booklets had been received at the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Atlanta adding, a lot is being done and we are hoping that before the end of this year, we will be on a clean slate.

    Aduda commended the Consulate-General in New York for providing improved passport services to Nigerians within its jurisdiction and for organising a cultural show to promote Nigeria’s rich heritage.

    The permanent secretary said the consulate had adopted cultural diplomacy through the show to sell the good image of Nigeria to the world.

    The consulate had on Saturday organised a cultural show, with the theme “Nigeria: Our Community, Cultures and Unity’’, to showcase Nigeria’s festivals, dances, and fashions, among others.

    Aduda, who was at the event, said the consulate had promoted Nigeria’s culture in a way that people would able be to buy-in.

    He said people would get to know the opportunities, the advantages and rich resources in the country, adding, “we are going to do more of the shows.

    “We only showcased two festivals – the Osun-Osogbo and the Argungu Fishing Festivals – out of the diverse cultural festivals. We hope it will actually draw people to exploit the tourism potential of the country.

    “If you look at Osun-Osogbo festival, you will notice so many foreigners; if you look at Argungu, you will see many foreigners, if you look at Calabar carnivals at the end of the year, it is the same.

    “In fact, there was a time we had about 20 different countries in attendance at the Calabar carnival, so apart from the economic benefit, you would have raised ambassadors that will go back with good image of the country,’’

  • U.S women basketball team beat D’Tigress 93-62

    U.S women basketball team beat D’Tigress 93-62

    The Nigerian national women basketball team on Sunday could not hold their own against their U.S. counterparts as they lost 62-93 in a friendly at Las Vegas.

    In the game arranged to prepare both sides for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, the Americans were totally dominant of D’Tigress.

    The Nigerian side were restricted to just 30.6 percent shooting during the game, while their foes shot 53.8 percent overall.

    The American side also outscored Nigeria in all four quarters of the game, though only by one point in the third quarter.

    Atonye Nyingifa led the scoring charts for Nigeria with nine points, while centre Elizabeth Williams scored four points.

    Both teams will meet again very soon, in the group stage of the Olympics in Tokyo on July 27.