Author: Vardiafrica

The United States does not want to see an escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, a top White House official said Sunday after Israel repelled a massive missile and drone attack from Iran. “We don’t want to see this escalate,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on NBC’s “Meet the Press”. “We’re not looking for a wider war with Iran.” Israel was on high alert Sunday after Iran’s unprecedented attack sparked fears of a broader conflict. Iran launched its first-ever direct assault on Israeli territory late Saturday in retaliation for a deadly strike by Israeli…

Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Germany to question what it referred to as their “irresponsible stance” regarding Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, the semi-official Iranian Labor News Agency reported. Iran summoned the ambassadors on Sunday following the countries’ positions on the retaliatory strikes, according to Alarabiya. The three European countries have condemned Iran’s drone and missile attack against Israel from Saturday night into Sunday and were in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of its consulate in Syria on April 1. The director for Western Europe at Iran’s foreign ministry accused the three countries of “double…

Israel praised the success of its defenses in the face of an unprecedented attack by Iran involving hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles while tensions ran high over a possible Israeli counter-strike. An Israeli military spokesman said Sunday the launches numbered more than 300, but 99 percent of them were intercepted. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base The Iranian attack on Saturday, less than two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike…

Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles towards Israel in its unprecedented attack overnight, injuring at least 12 people, an Israeli army spokesman said Sunday. “Last night Iran fired over 300 ballistic missiles, UAVs and cruise missiles towards Israel,” military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a televised statement, revising an earlier figure of more than 200 launches. Hagari said 170 drones and 30 cruise missiles were launched, none of which entered Israeli territory, adding that 110 ballistic missiles were also fired and few of them reached Israel. In a separate statement, the Israeli military said that “dozens of…

Countries around the world condemned Iran’s strikes on Israel late Saturday, warning the attack threatened to further destabilise the Middle East. Here are some of the main reactions so far: United States US President Joe Biden promised “ironclad” support for Israel after holding an urgent meeting with top security officials. “I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Biden said on X, formerly Twitter, posting a picture of the meeting in the White House Situation Room. Qatar Qatar…

US President Joe Biden says a meeting of the G7 countries will be convened on Sunday (today) to “coordinate a united diplomatic response” to Iran’s attack on Israel. Iran attacked Israel as a reprisal for a strike that killed an Iranian military commander in Damascus in early April. The G7 countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and the US. In a statement, Biden said he reassured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the US’ “ironclad commitment” to security in the Middle Eastern country “I’ve just spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel,” the US…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to publish copies of loan agreements obtained by the administration of past Presidents since 1999. SERAP asked Tinubu “to direct appropriate ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to provide our organization with copies of the loan agreements obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.” This was contained in a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and made available to Channels Television on Sunday. SERAP is also seeking “the spending details of any such loans as well as…

Israel was coming under direct attack from Iran Saturday, the army announced, in a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes that threatened to overshadow the conflict in Gaza Iran had repeatedly threatened to strike Israel in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike on its Damascus consular building and Washington had warned repeatedly in recent days that the reprisals were imminent. “Iran launched UAVs from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel,” military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement. “We are working in close cooperation with the…

The West African country has been ruled by juntas since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.Mali Junta leader Assimi Goita took power in consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021.  / Photo: Reuters The African Union on Saturday urged Mali to provide a post-coup transition ‘roadmap’, warning such a move was needed to steer the country back to democratic rule. Earlier this week Mali’s military junta ordered the suspension of all political activities – citing a need to maintain public order – and the African Union expressed “grave concern” at the move, saying it was likely to hinder the return to democracy.…

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says the planned national ID card will be issued to applicants by their banks.  NIMC said it is working with the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) to deliver the cards to applicants. “The card will be issued through the applicants’ respective banks in line with existing protocols with the issuance of the Debit/Credit cards,” the agency said in a Friday update on its official X handle It said applicants need to request their cards with their NIN “through the self-service online portal, NIMC offices, or their respective banks”. “The card will be powered by the AFRIGO…