gbn_editor

London, March 23, 2026 – More than 40 energy assets across nine countries in the Middle East have been “severely or very severely” damaged by the war, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said, potentially prolonging disruptions to global supply chains after the conflict ends. The damage means it will take some time for the oil fields, refineries and pipelines to come back online, Birol said Monday at Australia’s National Press Club in the capital, Canberra. More than three weeks of conflict in the Middle East have upended the …

Lagos, March 23, 2026 – Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, is set to host a high-level virtual webinar focused on helping public institutions to strengthen revenue systems, improve fiscal transparency, and build smarter digital structures for collections, oversight, and accountability. Scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the session, themed Digital Fiscal Transparency: Unlocking Sub-national Opportunities for International Partners, will bring together a cross-section of public sector leaders, development institutions, heads of parastatals and agencies, as well as financial experts to explore practical solutions for stronger public finance management. …

London, March 23, 2026 – Major brokerages have revised their 2026 average oil price forecasts as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran rages on, with the conflict having sent oil prices surging more than 50% this month. Goldman Sachs raised its Brent crude oil forecast for 2026 to $85 a barrel from $77, citing prolonged disruptions in Strait of Hormuz shipments and increased strategic stockpiling that are tightening the market. Meanwhile, J.P. Morgan expects Brent prices to average $100/bbl in the second quarter of 2026 and fall back to $80/bbl by …

New Delhi, March 23, 2026 – Oil prices swung between gains and losses on ‌Monday as investors weighed rising U.S. and Iranian threats over energy facilities against the release of millions of barrels of seaborne Iranian oil after Washington temporarily removed sanctions. Brent crude futures rose 65 cents to $112.84 a barrel by 0446 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $98.75 a barrel, up 84 cents. Both ​contracts were down more than $1 earlier in the session. The spread of more than $13 a barrel between Brent and WTI …

 Abuja, March 22, 2026 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised the Senate to ensure transparency in its ongoing investigation into alleged missing ₦200 trillion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). It urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to direct the Public Accounts Committee of the Senate to disclose all details of the investigation. It particularly requested the Senate Committe to disclose details of the audit reports, financial records, official communications, and committee proceedings, including minutes, submissions, and evidence presented. SERAP made the requests in …

Lagos, March 22, 2026 – In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026, Fidelity Bank Plc has announced a series of masterclasses and support initiatives designed to help women build practical, income generating skills, strengthen professional visibility, and accelerate career growth throughout March 2026. The activities are being delivered under the bank’s women focused proposition, HerFidelity, and align with the “Give to Gain” theme guiding this year’s programme of engagements. On March 18, 2026, HerFidelity hosted a “Give to Gain” masterclass focused on communication and presentation. The session offered practical guidance …

Tokyo, March 22, 2026 – Japan could consider deploying its military for minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz, a ​vital artery for global oil supplies, if a ceasefire is reached ‌in the U.S.- Israeli war on Iran, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Sunday. “If there were to be a complete ceasefire, hypothetically speaking, then things like minesweeping could come up,” Motegi ​said during a Fuji TV programme. “This is purely hypothetical, but if a ​ceasefire were established and naval mines were creating an obstacle, ⁠then I think that would …

London, March 18, 2026 – King Charles is hosting the first Nigerian state visit to the UK for 37 years, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Oluremi Tinubu given a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle. At the start of the two-day visit, the leaders of the African nation with the biggest population – triple that of the UK – were greeted by senior royals including Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. The King and President Tinubu will give speeches on Wednesday evening at the state …

London, March 18, 2026 – Brent crude prices turned positive as supply disruptions — from Gulf producer outages to fresh attacks on ‌regional energy infrastructure — outweighed pressure from Iraq’s resumption of pipeline exports to Turkey’s Ceyhan port. With no signs of de-escalation in the Iran conflict, benchmark Brent futures prices have settled above $100 per barrel for the past four sessions. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude , ​in contrast, dropped $1.28, or 1.3%, to $94.93. Saxo bank analyst Ole Hansen said the divergence in the ⁠price directions of the …

Washington, March 18, 2026 – Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing his concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran and saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent said in a statement posted on social media, making claims President Donald Trump has denied. Kent, a former Green Beret …