Author: Ndarake Okon
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been knocked out of the NBA playoffs after the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a commanding 4-0 series sweep with a 115-110 victory in Game 4. Oklahoma City maintained its unbeaten playoff run and advanced to the Western Conference finals for a second straight season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred again for the Thunder, finishing with 35 points to lead his side in the decisive win. Ajay Mitchell also made a major impact with 28 points, while Chet Holmgren added 16 points and nine rebounds as Oklahoma City closed out the series in Los Angeles.…
Hopes for a breakthrough peace deal between the United States and Iran have weakened after former U.S. President Donald Trump sharply rejected Tehran’s latest counterproposal, describing it as “garbage,”. The rejection came after Iran submitted a response to a U.S. peace initiative aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Tehran’s proposal reportedly called for a broader regional ceasefire, including an end to fighting in places like Lebanon, alongside demands tied to sanctions relief, compensation for war damage, and recognition of Iranian control over strategic issues such as the Strait of Hormuz. Trump dismissed the Iranian response as unacceptable and suggested it…
Sean Strickland reclaimed the UFC middleweight title after defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision in the main event of UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. The bout ended with judges scoring it 48-47, 47-48 and 48-47 in favour of Strickland, handing Chimaev the first defeat of his professional MMA career. Chimaev started strongly and dominated the opening round with his grappling and takedown pressure, controlling Strickland on the ground and threatening with submission attempts. However, Strickland gradually recovered and began to dictate the pace with his jab, movement and improved takedown defence as the fight progressed. The fight had attracted…
The United States and Iran remain far apart on ending their ongoing conflict despite fresh diplomatic efforts led by Qatar. Relative calm returned around the Strait of Hormuz after days of clashes, but both sides have yet to agree on a peace framework or a permanent ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was expecting a response from Tehran on proposals aimed at stopping more than two months of fighting and opening broader negotiations, including discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities. However, there was no sign of an immediate Iranian reply. A major development involved a Qatari liquefied natural…
The Cross River State Internal Revenue Service has sealed off the offices of the Cross River Basin Development Authority and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital over alleged unpaid tax liabilities amounting to about N154 million. The enforcement exercise was carried out in Calabar as part of efforts to recover outstanding taxes from defaulting institutions. Officials of the revenue service explained that the action followed several failed attempts to get the affected institutions to comply with tax obligations. According to the agency, repeated assessment notices, demand notices, and pre-distraint notices were ignored before the sealing exercise was eventually carried out. Director of…
AFC Bournemouth have dropped Spanish defender Álex Jiménez from their squad ahead of the Premier League clash against Fulham F.C. after allegations surfaced online involving alleged text exchanges with a minor. The club confirmed on Friday that it was aware of “posts circulating on social media” and had opened an internal investigation into the matter. Reports from several media outlets claim screenshots of conversations between Jiménez and a girl said to be 15 years old were shared online, although the authenticity of the posts has not been officially verified. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said the club must first determine “what…
Health authorities are investigating a new suspected case of hantavirus linked to the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, as global contact tracing efforts continue. According report that the latest suspected infection involves a British passenger who disembarked on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha after the vessel stopped there in mid-April. The outbreak has already resulted in the deaths of three passengers — a Dutch couple and a German national — while several others are receiving treatment in hospitals across Europe and Africa. Health officials said the outbreak involves the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, which unlike…
U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in place despite renewed clashes in the Gulf region. Trump said American forces responded after three U.S. Navy destroyers were attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, although no damage was reported to the vessels. The latest fighting reportedly began after Iran accused the U.S. of violating the truce through attacks on Iranian tankers and civilian-linked targets. Iran also carried out fresh military actions near the Gulf, while the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones aimed at its territory,…
English clubs enjoyed another memorable night in European football as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace secured places in continental finals after impressive semi-final victories. The two Premier League sides produced dominant performances to continue England’s strong presence in UEFA competitions this season. At Villa Park, Aston Villa overturned a first-leg deficit by thrashing Nottingham Forest 4-0 to advance 4-1 on aggregate into the UEFA Europa League final. Goals from Ollie Watkins, Emi Buendia and a brace from captain John McGinn sealed a famous comeback for Unai Emery’s side in front of an electric home crowd. Villa will now face German…
Tension continues to grow inside the Real Madrid CF dressing room following reports of repeated confrontations between players during training sessions. Spanish media outlets reported that midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni were involved in another heated clash this week, with the disagreement allegedly escalating into a physical altercation before teammates and coaching staff intervened. The situation has further intensified after reports emerged that defender Antonio Rüdiger also became involved in a separate dressing-room incident where he allegedly slapped a teammate during an argument. The reports claim frustrations inside the squad have reached boiling point following the club’s disappointing run…
Five indigenes of Cross River State and two babies were among 64 Nigerians arrested by Ugandan immigration authorities during a raid on a religious gathering in Kampala, Uganda. Reports said the operation was carried out by Uganda’s National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC) over allegations of illegal church activities and immigration violations. The affected Cross Riverians were identified among the detained Nigerians after Ugandan authorities stormed the gathering in late April 2026. Authorities claimed many of those arrested lacked valid work permits and immigration documents required to conduct religious activities in the country. Sources familiar with the matter said the…
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has strongly rejected claims made by former governor Benedict Ayade regarding political developments in Cross River North. Jarigbe accused Ayade of distorting facts and attempting to rewrite political history following comments suggesting that President Tinubu asked the former governor to withdraw from the Senate race. The senator described Ayade’s remarks as misleading and claimed that the former governor no longer holds the political influence he once enjoyed in the state. The exchange has intensified political tension within the region ahead of the next election cycle. Political observers say the public disagreement highlights deepening divisions among political…
Former Cross River governor Benedict Ayade has claimed that President Bola Tinubu asked him to withdraw from the 2027 Cross River North Senate race. Ayade stated that he was invited to Abuja for what he described as a high-level consultation where he was allegedly advised to step down from the contest in the interest of party unity within the APC. The former governor expressed disappointment over what he described as unfair treatment within the ruling party, insisting that he had remained loyal to the APC and contributed significantly to its success in Cross River State. Read Also: Troops Discover Illegal…
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Odonget community, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State during a security operation targeting criminal gangs. According to military authorities, five suspected criminals were killed during a gun battle that occurred when troops raided the hideout. Security operatives also recovered weapons, ammunition, and equipment allegedly used for illegal arms production. The Army said the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to curb armed violence, cult-related crimes, and illegal weapons trafficking in Cross River and neighboring states. Officials described the discovery as a major breakthrough in…
France has deployed its aircraft carrier strike group to the Red Sea as part of preparations for a possible multinational mission aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran. The deployment includes the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle alongside Italian and Dutch warships heading toward the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According report we gather, France and Britain have been developing a proposal for several weeks to guarantee safe maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz once the security situation stabilises. French officials said the mission would focus on protecting…
Manchester City Women have been crowned champions of the 2025/2026 Women’s Super League after closest challengers Arsenal Women dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Brighton. The result confirmed City as league winners with games still remaining, ending the club’s 10-year wait for another WSL crown. The title triumph marks Manchester City’s first WSL success since the 2016 season and also ends Chelsea’s six-year dominance in English women’s football. Under new manager Andrée Jeglertz, City produced a remarkable campaign built on consistency, strong attacking football, and an impressive winning streak. City’s success was driven by several standout performers, including prolific…