Author: straightnewsng.com

Austrian Dominic Thiem has beaten the world’s No. 1 player Novak Djokovic, halting Djokovic’s quest to once again claim all Grand Slam titles at the same time. The Paris match was previously halted due to wind and rain. The 25-year-old Thiem will now face reigning champion Rafael Nadal on Sunday. Thiem had already went against Nadal in last year’s final, but lost to the world’s second-best player. “If you reach the final here it’s always against Rafa,” Thiem said on court. “It was an amazing experience last year and I will try everything to be better this year.” Thiem claimed his victory…

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to grant licence to religious preachers in the state. Though Governor Nasir El Rufai has not assented to it, the bill passed into law by the House three days ago seeks to regulate religious activities in the state. In a move likely to stoke further controversy in the state, the Bill seeks to ban open public preaching attracted opposition from both Christian and Muslim groups in the state. Its passage few minutes before the assembly was dissolved has raised further suspicion that members of the State House of Assembly…

By Victoria Orok The just-ended 8th International Conference/Workshop on Giant African Land Snails has advocated snail farming as a viable business to help in reducing unemployment rate in the society. Organised by Research Network on Giant African Land Snails (NetGALS), the three-day conference said snails were easy to farm because they are herbivorous and do not discriminate between living or dead plants. The conference with its theme “Sustainable Snail Production for Food and Wealth Creation in The Humid Forest Ecosystem” held at Onyema Ugochukwu Hall, University of Uyo Town Campus, Uyo, Nigeria, listed leaves, flowers, fruits, fungi, pawpaw, stems, barks,…

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said Nigeria recorded a total trade volume of N8.24 trillion in the first quarter of 2019. The NBS said this in “Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics’’ for first quarter, 2019 posted on its website. The bureau said the figure (N8.24 trillion) was 2.50 per cent higher compared to fourth quarter, 2018 and 7.52 per cent higher relative to the corresponding quarter in 2018. It said the trade balance remained positive at N831.62 billion in the quarter under review, boosted by increase in both exports and imports. According to the report, total import in the…

Defending champion Rafael Nadal powered past Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals on Friday, to move within one victory of a record-extending 12th Roland Garros title after handing his oldest rival his worst Grand Slam defeat in 11 years. The 33-year-old produced a masterful performance to get past Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the last four on Court Philippe Chatrier and set up a final clash with either world number one Novak Djokovic or Austrian fourth seed Dominic Thiem on Sunday. It will be Nadal’s 12th appearance in the championship match, which he has never lost before. “It’s incredible…

By Akanimo Sampson The massive violence going on all over Northern Nigeria and currently spreading southwards is an alleged attempt by the Global Islamic Caliphate led by ISIS, to capture Nigeria, Lower Niger Congress (LNC) raised the alarm. The group, a pro-restructuring group, galvanised by Tony Nnadi, a lawyer said the entire plan is aimed at seizing and confiscating the West African Sub-Region with the Nigerian State that is being tormented by Boko Haram as its Strategic Operational Base, a mission ISIS could not accomplish in Iraq and Syria. LNC is arguing that if the global community, particularly the United…

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Friday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to the immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha. Justice Okon Abang on Friday ruled that the having been declared by the Returning Officer as the winner of the February 23 senatorial election for Imo West Senatorial District (Orlu Zone), INEC has no reason not to issue him certificate of return. Justice Abang overruled the submission by candidates of the PDP, Jones Onyeriri and APGA, Osita Izunaso that the matter ought to be taken to the election petitions tribunal…

By Akanimo Sampson The Gambia, a tiny West African nation, is working hard to attract more tourists from the African continent to boost her economy. To this end, she has enlisted the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa in the endeavour. Blessed with sweeping stretches of sand and an enchanting river ecosystem that some 560 bird species call home, The Gambia is a bourgeoning tourist destination on Africa’s west coast. Tourism accounts for more than 20 per cent of GDP and is a growing source of employment for a nation with…

By Akanimo Sampson The use of social media by repressive states and extremist groups is adding directly to the threats faced by some of the world’s most vulnerable populations and can exacerbate violence where atrocities have occurred or risk transpiring, new data analysis by Minority Rights Group International (MRG) and the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights (CCCR) shows. While MRG is a leading international human rights organisation working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples, with more than 150 partners in over 50 countries, CCCR is an international initiative to develop civilian-led monitoring of…

The Ibom Air maiden commercial flight has departed Uyo for Abuja on Friday, June 7, Straightnews has gathered. The Ibom Air launched on February 20, 2019 with three aircraft by the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Sarak is the first commercial airline owned and operated by Akwa Ibom state government in Nigeria and Africa. The aircraft which started boarding of passengers at about 11 a.m. left Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 11.55 a.m. The aircraft conveying top government functionaries and passengers may land Abuja in more than one hour. Flagging off the maiden…