Author: straightnewsng.com

For only the second year in a decade, both the number of billionaires and their total wealth shrank, proving that even the wealthiest are not immune to economic forces and weak stock markets. By our latest count there are 2,153 billionaires, 55 fewer than a year ago. Of those, a record 994, or 46%, are poorer (relatively speaking) than they were last year. In total, the ultra-rich are worth $8.7 trillion, down $400 billion from 2018. Altogether 11% of last year’s list members, or 247 people, dropped out of the ranks, the most since 2009 at the height of the…

Ajax’s stunning win over Real Madrid boosted their share price by almost 8.0 per cent on the Amsterdam stock exchange Wednesday, as investors too savoured the Dutch club’s Champions League success. The Amsterdam club’s shares jumped by 7.8 per cent at close after news of their 4-1 drubbing of Real, which saw the Spanish defending champions crash out of the competition on Tuesday night. Ajax’s stocks opened at 16.25 euros ($18.37) a share, up 5.8 per cent from its close on Tuesday. Shortly after opening it jumped as high as 17 euros, attributed by financial analysts to the club’s win.…

Alex Telles converted a VAR-awarded penalty deep into extra time as Porto defeated Roma 3-1 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals following a 4-3 win on aggregate. Francisco Soares nudged Porto ahead with a simple tap-in on 26 minutes, but Daniele De Rossi equalised from the spot before half-time after Eder Militao chopped down Diego Perotti. Moussa Marega restored the lead on the night for Porto early in the second half to level the tie as he struck in his sixth successive appearance in Europe. An additional half-hour was required to settle an encounter that looked to be heading for…

Paris Saint-Germain blew a 2-0 first-leg lead to be eliminated from the Champions League by Manchester United, who won 3-1 in France. Manchester United made Champions League history as Marcus Rashford’s last-gasp penalty secured a 3-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain, sending the English side through on away goals after a 2-0 loss in the first leg at home. No side had ever progressed in a knockout match in Europe’s elite competition after losing a home first leg by two or more goals, but United did the unthinkable, Rashford adding to Romelu Lukaku’s brace after VAR drama. Although PSG controlled the first…

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to steer clear of its strongholds, particularly the Niger Delta, saying any attempt to manipulate the process would breed widespread crisis across the country. The party also vowed to resist alleged moves to unleash thugs on the people in the governorship polls in Akwa Ibom. In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said its position was predicated on the on-going heavy shipment of security forces and armed thugs into…

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reassured Nigerians that he would not let them down in his second term in office. This is even as the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has promised to continue to support the President because he has addressed most of the concerns they brought to his attention in 2016. President Buhari, who received the leadership of the ACF that paid him a congratulatory visit at the Council Chamber Presidential Villa Abuja, said he would work harder in the next four years to address the challenges facing the country. “This is my last lap, I will try to work…

The British High Commission has warned that those who incite electoral violence on social media could be denied access into the United Kingdom. In its call for credible, peaceful elections on March 9, the high commission asked Nigerians to turn out and vote on Saturday 9 March in elections for State Governorships and State Houses of Assembly. “These elections are an important opportunity for citizens to exercise their democratic rights and choose their leaders. We hope that the causes of logistical issues on the 23 February election have been identified and addressed. “We commend INEC staff and the National Youth…

The Presidency said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari and his government will not allow the the frosty relationship that existed between the executive and the legislature in the eight National Assembly to repeat itself by allowing emergence of saboteurs in the leadership of the parliament. The relationship between the executive and the leadership of the eight National Assembly, especially the presiding officers, has not been cordial and the situation was said to have affected governance. Though President Buhari did not interfere in the election of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and the deputy Speaker of the House…

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Wednesday, posted a profit before tax of N215.6 billion, representing an increase of 9.1 percent over the ₦197.7 billion recorded in 2017. This was contained in its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018 released to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges. A review of the results shows positive performance across some financial metrics and improved strategic positioning of the brand. Gross earnings for the year grew by 3.7 percent to ₦434.7 billion from ₦419.2 billion reported in the December 2017. The bank’s customer deposits increased by 10.3 percent to ₦2.274 trillion from…

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Apo Wednesday granted bail to two former management staffers of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, who are facing money laundering charges in the sum of N500 million each. The duo are Mr. Tunde Ayeni, chairman and Mr. Timothy Ajani Oguntayo, the Managing Director of the bank who are answering a four-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against them over their alleged complicity in a N456.6 billion fraud. Justice Valentine Ashi granted the former bank chiefs bail after they pleaded not guilty to the charge. Aside from…