Author: straightnewsng.com

Many of Pope Francis’ new cardinals have defended the commitment to fighting populism and supported the inclusion of gay Catholics. Pope Francis has appointed 13 new cardinals during a ceremony at the Vatican on Saturday, many of whom symbolize his priorities for the Catholic Church during his papacy and ultimately, his legacy. The Pontiff’s new cardinals have defended the commitment to fighting populism, supported the inclusion of gay Catholics, sought to improve inter-religious dialogue with Muslim communities, and expressed concern with the environment and youth issues, according to their biographies. The appointments come from such countries as Democratic Republic of…

Worried by what it described as flagrant abuse of environment by International Oil Companies (IOCs), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) committed to environmental justice and climate change issues in Niger Delta, has threatened to sue ExxonMobil and Frontier Oil. The National President of the Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPDDRR), Alhaji Al mustapher Edoho, who stated this in an interview in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital at the weekend explained that “the action became necessary following decades of gas flaring, oil spillages and environmental degradation caused by oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities by the…

By Akanimo Sampson Former President Goodluck Jonathan has taken on a former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, on his damaging allegations against him and his administration on the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by terrorists in Borno State. In his new book, For the Record, Cameron accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration under Jonathan’s watch of “sleeping on the wheel’’ while Boko Haram terrorists were abducting the Chibok schoolgirls. The former United Kingdom prime minister also accused Jonathan of preventing British forces from engaging in rescue efforts, claiming he seemed to see the incident as cheap politics. Returning the salvo in…

By Akanimo Sampson The Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem, has said that hundreds of thousands of women continue to die each year from preventable causes. According to the UN agency, data from 2017 show that approximately 810 women die each day of preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. This is a roughly 38 per cent decline in the global maternal mortality ratio between 2000 and 2017, going by a new report by UNFPA and its partner UN agencies. “We are pleased to see a reduction in maternal deaths, but the decline is…

BBNaija Pepper Dem housemate, Mercy aka Lambo shows promise by becoming the last woman standing in the house, competing for the N60 million worth of prizes alongside fellow male housemates Frodd, Seyi, Mike and Omashola. So far, Mercy’s time in the house has not been without drama particularly the moment when she had to be physically restrained during a row with now disqualified housemate, Tacha. Besides the drama, Mercy has proven herself to be goal-driven, from winning the HoH challenge down to the tasks prepared by the sponsors. She is also known for her ever-changing style and sense of humour.…

By Akanimo Sampson On the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem, brought the issue of escalating abuses against women to global attention. Betty (not real name), is a survivor. The South Sudanese teenager has risen above a horrific act of violence and reclaimed her life. But her heroic act of recovery should never have been necessary, leaders at the United Nations emphasized at a panel discussion on gender-based violence. Betty was 16 years old when four armed men in uniform broke into her…

By Akanimo Sampson The rampaging Boko Haram jihadists have sacked Marte local government area in the bleeding Borno State of Northern Nigeria. Chairman of the local government council, Ali Shettima, says the area is totally deserted. Shettima spoke out as armed youths on Thursday killed about nine soldiers during a reprisal attack on the armed security forces at Sunke village in Anka local government area of Zamfara State, also in Northern Nigeria. Eyewitness claimed that the armed youths in their dozens on motorcycles arrived the village and began shooting sporadically at the soldiers’ station in the village leading to the…

The Federal Government through Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has given 100 youths in Akwa Ibom with multi-million naira starter packs to boost their businesses. Miss Lucy Ekpenyong, the state Manager of SMEDAN, who presented the packs to beneficiaries on Friday, said Federal Government funded the starter packs. According to her, the training by the Agency tagged, National Entrepreneurship Training Programme was aimed at empowering the youths with different skills to reduce unemployment. “Today, we are actually having a ceremony for empowerment and distribution of Starter packs /equipment for our beneficiaries of the National Entrepreneurship Training which…

At the end of the 9th Bi-National Commission meeting between South Africa and Nigeria in Pretoria, South Africa, both countries have agreed to be issuing a 10-year visa to businessmen, academics and frequent travelers. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, in a statement, said the agreement was reached in a meeting co-chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the first time both presidents presided since the elevation of Bi-National Commission to the level of heads of state. The decision was taken to encourage more people-to-people contacts among citizens…

As their 27th wedding anniversary bells tolled again on October 3, Barack and Michelle Obama shared fondest moments laced with touching tributes on the social media. Barack Obama, the 44th US President from 2009 to 2017 posted a photo of himself and his wife gazing at the sunset. In his Twitter handle, he penned “Like the Beatles said: It’s getting better all the time,” he writes. “Thanks, babe, for 27 amazing years!” In return, Michelle Obama hit back the love with a heartfelt post of her own. She wrote too “27 years ago, this guy promised me a life full…