The events of last Friday in Baghdad have been escalating to the reach of many businesses; from oil to gold, and now Bitcoin. While some markets are feeling the negative impact, some commodities are seeing an opportunity to thrive.

Bitcoin saw a huge leap in the wake of the conflict that started with the killing of Qassem Soleimani, an Irani Army General who represented a key interest between the United States and Iran. The price of Bitcoin hit $8,400 high in the wake of Iran’s retaliation that rained missiles on US military bases in Iraq.

Since 2017, the cryptocurrency has been fighting to maintain the level of performance that attracted the world to it. In mid-2019, the digital currency dropped below $5,000, creating a great loss and despair among its holders. But there was a lift in its performance toward the end of the year, when it rose to $11, 000, but it was not enough to close the gap that exists between its peak periods until now.

The beginning of 2020 also followed the same pattern of dwindling growth but made a surprising turn around which was attributed to the US vs. Iran conflict. In January 7, Bitcoin exerted an upward trend from $8,080 to above $8,400 before topping out at $8, 438, in just over 40 minutes, according to Coindesk.

While this is going on, capital markets are closing trades on losses. Dow Jones Industrial Average was reportedly down 0.41 percent, and S&P index was down by 0.28 percent. A few items of trade beside crude oil have shown defiance to the negative effects of the brewing conflict between the US and Iran – gold, and recently cryptocurrencies.

Gold, inadvertently became the top gainer, jumping above $1, 600 for the first time since 2013. The significant growth has resulted in notable commodity switch, with many traders swapping with the commodity for sustainability.

But Bitcoin seems to be squaring up to gold in growth. After upping its price from about $6,850 low, the cryptocurrency has pulled a leaping gain of more than 20 percent since Friday. And it now looks set to punch a hole through gold’s wall and confirm a falling channel breakout on the weekly Gold/Bitcoin chart.

Coindesk noted Bitcoin’s trading agility in the current chart, above the falling channel resistance of $7, 960. If a break out confirms the week’s closing price at $7, 960, that would imply a continuation of the rally from April 2019’s low of $4, 100, and open doors for a re-test of $13,880.

The weekly chart is suggesting bullish developments on key technical indicators. A bullish divergence happens when an indicator produces higher lows, contradicting lower lows on price and it is considered an advance warning of an impending bullish reversal.

But the daily chart is reporting and inverse head-and-shoulders breakout, which is also a bullish reversal pattern. And that’s among other positive indicators in the weekly chart. According to Coindesk, the odds appear to be in favor of a possibility that the coin will rise to $8,626. So the odds of Bitcoin confirming a channel breakout on Sunday would drop if prices find acceptance below $8,000 with high volumes.

The indicators seem promising to entice more investors to Bitcoin in 2020, especially from Nigeria. 2019 yielded a low Return on Investment to many in the cryptocurrency business, especially those on long term investment. Nevertheless, it was a year of advent awareness of digital currency trading, getting many Nigerians involved. The CEO of the Cryptocurrency trading platform, Luno, Marcus Swanepoel, told BusinessDay that although there was low ROI, in 2019, there was some other gain.

“There is certainly a link with investors, for example, buying gold using digital assets for a small but potentially high return – part of their allocation, but at Luno, we think the price increase in BTC is down to more structural reasons.

“This year, we have seen a steady increase in Bitcoin sentiment which could be linked to the expected halving in May. And we have seen also hash rates, showing the level of mining rise to all-time high.

“In 2019, there was also a 17 percent increase in long positions, which shows that there is a lot of interest in the leading altcon which is helping to bring back buyers into the sector,” Swanepoel said.

However, the sustainability of the recent growth has come under question since it was spurred by the political tension between the US and Iran. What happens to the gains if de-escalation of the conflict is achieved is not certain. But the likelihood that the price would trace its steps backward cannot be overruled.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.

“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.

“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.

“We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”

This statement has set the Buckingham Palace in turmoil, and the British Royalty is working real hard to contain the outburst it has caused.

In the noon hours of Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued the statement to confirm a leak that was about to be published by the Sun. The couple are relinquishing their senior roles in the British Monarchy.

The story said that Harry and Megan are planning to establish financial independence, and they can’t wait to work on commercial products or take commercial deals. But that appears not to be the main problem.

The major altercation came from how the couple handled the whole thing. It was reported that the royal family was not carried along in their decision to step back from their senior roles in the institution. It was upon learning that the Sun was about to publish the leak of their plans that they hurriedly issued a statement, which the queen was said to be very upset about and Princes Charles and the Duke of Cambridge, Williams, were ‘incandescent’ with rage. It was said that the Duke and Duchess have “exiled themselves from the royal family.”

In their plans, the couple wants to keep the Frogmore Cottage which was renovated with 2.4 million of taxpayers money, keep their royal titles and body guards that cost 600,000 a year.

A statement issued by a senior member of the palace who spoke to the Sun on anonymity said: “Their statement was not cleared with anyone. It breaks all protocol. This is a declaration of war on the family.

“There is fury over how they’ve done this without any thought for the implications for the institutions. The Queen is deeply upset. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge are incandescent with rage.

“Courtiers can’t believe it. There are so many unanswered questions but they’ve just up and done it without a thought for anyone else.

“The plan was for them to discuss it and work out a way that works for everyone in the family.”

Harry and Meghan have been at the center of criticism from the British media, a situation that has been attributed to racism. It is believed that Meghan is not white enough to be welcomed in Buckingham palace. The birth of the son, Archie has also changed a lot in the couple’s behavior that the royal family’s differences have widened.

The couple said they will be going to North America or precisely Canada, but will keep in touch with Britain. They had spent their Christmas in Canada and many people believe it was more like a foretaste of their preferred place of residence.

The development has stirred divided opinions from the British people and the couple’s fans around the world. While some say their decision is a slap on the British Institution, others applaud the step as a way of protecting their son from perceived racism.

A fierce critic of the couple, Piers Morgan tweeted: “people say I’m too critical of Meghan Markle – she ditched her family, ditched her dad, ditched most of her old friends, split Harry from William, and has now split him from the Royal family.”

Just the sentiment so many others are echoing, that altercation in the royal family has been fueled ever since the former actress got married to Prince Harry.

However, Buckingham palace has issued a statement to address the situation: “Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage.

“We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through,” the statement said

What is not clear is if the institution will strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their royalty if the family fails to talk them out of their decision.

In the eve of Tuesday January 7, playmakers, coaches, journalist and many who love the round leather game gathered for the 28th edition of CAF Awards 2019 in Egypt. The once in a year event is deigned to select the best among those who ply their trade in the football field, and that was done, honors were given to those to whom it’s due.

Sadio Mane’ of Liverpool has in the past season displayed the kind of playmaking that distinguished him from his contemporaries. The prodigy that earned him the fourth place in the Fifa ballon Do’r was not ignored by the Confederation of African Football, so that he was considered the best. He polled 477 votes ahead of his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, 325 votes and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, 267 votes.

The Senegalese was instrumental to Liverpool’s epic come back against Barcelona, and their subsequent win of the Champions League.

Another character in the game whose activities in the game caught the eye of the football body is Nigerian Asisat Oshoala, who plies her trade with FC Barcelona’s female team. She was crown the best female football in Africa.

Oshoala was named African Women’s Player of the Year for the fourth time, equalling the record of her compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha.

She garnered 351 votes, 30 more than Cameroonian forward Ajara Nchout and Thembi Kgatlana, who had 247 votes.

Her prowess in the field of play was convincing enough that FC Barcelona didn’t find it hard deciding to keep her after her trial at Camp Noun. And she has been genial with the Nigerian female national team, the Super Falcons.

There are others too, who although they didn’t win the best footballers, came first in other different categories. Below is the list of the winners and nominees.

African Interclubs Player of the Year: Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)

Nominees:

1. Anice Badri (Tunisia & Esperance)

2. Kodjo Fo Doh Laba (Togo & RS Berkane / Al Ain)

3. Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)

4. Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek)

5. Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)

African Youth Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

Nominees:

1. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

2. Krépin Diatta (Senegal & Club Brugge)

3. Moussa Djenepo (Mali & Southampton)

4. Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal)

5. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille)

African Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon

Nominees:
1. Cameroon

2. Côte d’Ivoire

3. Nigeria

4. South Africa

5. Zambia

African Men’s National Team of the Year: Algeria

Nominees:
1. Algeria

2. Madagascar

3. Nigeria

4. Senegal

5. Tunisia

Best African Goal of the Year: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

FIFPro Africa’s Best 11:

Andre Onana; Serge Aurier, Joel Matip, Kalidou Koulibaly, Achraf Hakimi; Idrissa Gana Gueye, Riyad Mahrez, Hakim Ziyech; Mohamed Salah, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane*

African Women’s Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Nominees:

1. Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon)

2. Bruce Mwape (Zambia)

3. Clementine Toure (Côte d’Ivoire)

4. Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

5. Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria)

Men African Coach of the Year: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)

Nominees:

Aliou Cisse (Senegal – Senegal)

2. Christian Gross (Switzerland – Zamalek)

3. Djamel Belmadi (Algeria – Algeria)

4. Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia – Esperance)

5. Nicolas Dupuis (France – Madagascar)

African Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala

Nominees:

1. Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga)

2. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)

3. Gabrielle Ouguene (Cameroon & CSKA Moscow)

4. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi & Jiangsu Suning)

5. Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC)

Player of the Year: Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

Nominees:

1. André Onana (Cameroon & Ajax)

2. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)

3. Ismail Bennacer (Algeria & AC Milan)

4. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)

5. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

6. Odion Ighalo (Nigeria & Shanghai Shenhua)

7. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)

8. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)

9. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

10. Youcef Belaili (Algeria & Ahli Jeddah

The Senegalese international Mane’ was believed to deserve better than he got in the Fifa Ballon Do’r, that even Lionel Messi called his fourth position “an injustice.” Nevertheless, the night came to an end with Mane’ getting what he deserved for his contribution to the beautiful game. And he didn’t fail to show appreciation.

“It’s a great day for me and for my career. I would like to thank all of the Senegalese people who supported me during my journey.

“I’m feeling happy because they will be glad watching me winning this award, especially the people in my village,” Mane’ said.