Author: straightnewsng.com

A one-time Nigerian Minister of Aviation has castigated Shiite Muslims in Nigeria for crying against the detention of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky, but turning to celebrate the persecution of Christians, Jews and Sunnis in the Middle East. Femi Fani-Kayode was reacting to the action of the Shi’ites who are protesting against the continued detention of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Zakzaky by the Federal Government despite the court’s rulings. “What I can’t understand about Shiite Muslims is that they cry against persecution in Nigeria but they celebrate the persecution of Christians, Jews & Sunnis in the Middle East. You…

“The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World!” US President Donald Trump boasted in response to a threat by the Iranian government to revenge for the killing of its military commander. “If Iran attacks an American Base or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way…and without hesitation!” Trump in a Twitter on Sunday warned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani owing to his statement on Saturday that the United States committed a “grave mistake” in killing Iranian commander Qasem…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, says over 650 Computer Based Test, centres have so far been accredited for its upcoming 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. The board has fixed this year’s examination for March 14 to April 4, while an optional mock examination for candidates is scheduled for February 18. Similarly, the board had said that it would commence the sales of its registration documents from Monday, January 13, to Monday, February 17. The Head, Media and Information of the board, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos that arrangements for the…

The two football teams representing Akwa Ibom State in the 2019/2020 Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL, are taking the matches to their opponents’ dens by hitting them below the belt. Akwa Starlets also known as Dakadda FC whitewashed Adamawa United by 4-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Sunday, January 7. Similarly, the rejuvenated Akwa United had thrashed Abia Warriors 2-0 on Saturday to move up to top position on the NPFL table. Of the 12 matches played Dakkada FC occupy the fourth position with 20 points while Akwa United from the same match occupy the fifth position…

By Akanimo Sampson Iran is likely to hit the underbelly of the US economy by sparking higher oil prices, Forbes, a global media company that focuses on business, investment, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle has said. While the world is watching to see how Iran will retaliate the death of General Qasem Soleimani who was assassinated in a US drone strike, Forbes says high on the list of military responses could be efforts to restrict the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf. This, according to it, will hit Iran’s adversaries in the pocket, driving the price of oil…

By Akanimo Sampson The Mediterranean Sea has so far claimed the lives of at least 19,164 migrants since 2014, according to a report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the migration agency of the United Nations. The sea is, however, connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa and on the east by the Levant. Although the sea is sometimes considered a part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is usually referred to as a separate body of…

By Akanimo Sampson Signs of improvement in the global metal market are beginning to drive prices higher. But market watchers say this does not portend a sharp recovery for the metal sector, only a gradual one. Though the global demand for aluminium has remained soft, global inventory levels are not down significantly yet. But global aluminium prices have been inching up, which could help revive the sector this 2020. It was, however, expected that supply disruption in iron ore mining could keep the sector buoyant towards the start of this year, while a demand pickup was expected to see the…

The Akwa Ibom government appears to be facing herculean task following reluctance of the Federal Government to release ecological funds to tackle its myriad of ecological challenges in the state. In 2019, the state government could not tackle such challenges as N21 billion earmarked as ecological funds were not released to it by the Federal Government. For 2020, the state government has budgeted N20 billion as the funds, and the government is yet to access it. Unfortunately in 2019, some parts of the state were submerged, residents sacked, houses and farmlands were taken over by heavy floods and roads rendered…

By Akanimo Sampson Some of the expected changes in the demand for different fuels to meet the new shipping requirements have been slower to emerge than anticipated. The International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 0.5% sulfur cap on fuel oil started on January 1. The global low sulfur cap on marine fuel and the ramping up of additional capacity this 2020 are likely to have contrasting impacts on the downstream sector. Now Refiners snapping up premium grade crudes to bring down sulfur limits will mean sweet-sour crude spreads widen further but extra refining room will offset the growth in product demand, especially…

Oil prices moved higher Friday after a top Iranian general was killed in a US airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump. Futures for Brent crude, a global benchmark, jumped 3.6% to settle at $68.60 per barrel on Friday. US oil futures gained 3.1%, settling at $63.05 per barrel. Both are on track for their biggest daily gains in about a month and their highest prices since September, when Iran attacked Saudi oil facilities. Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was killed in the strike at Baghdad International Airport. The Pentagon said that Soleimani…