Author: Vardiafrica

Chidimma Adetshina, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, has made history by becoming the first runner-up at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant. The grand finale of the Miss Universe 2024 beauty pageant ended in Mexico City on Sunday morning, with Miss Denmark Victoria Kjaer Theilvig taking home the crown. Theilvig defeated Adetshina in the final, while contestants from Bolivia, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Russia, Chile, Thailand, Canada and Peru also made it to the top 12. Chidimma’s journey to the top was remarkable. She impressed judges and the audience with her thoughtful answers on diversity and human respect. Initially,…

The wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to market women not to hike the prices of food items. She made the appeal in Ebonyi State while addressing women at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, for their 2024 Women’s Day Celebration. The First Lady’s media aide, Busola Kukoyi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying Tinubu acknowledged the tremendous support women have enjoyed from the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, in the areas of appointment and interventions. “With the Yuletide season fast approaching, the First Lady appealed to market women to refrain from unfair hikes in prices…

President Bola Tinubu will on Sunday host the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for a State Visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. His visit to Nigeria will be the first by an Indian prime minister since Dr Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007 when the two nations established a strategic partnership. The presidential spokesman said both leaders would have further talks on strengthening Nigeria and India’s ties. “Both leaders will exchange signed Memoranda of Understanding to enhance collaboration in critical…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to penalise banks disbursing cash to naira hawkers. The apex has also directed banks to prioritise cash disbursement through automated teller machines (ATMs). CBN gave the directive in a circular to banks on Friday titled ‘Mystery shopping & spot checks on cash disbursement activities of deposit money banks (DMBs)”. In the circular signed by Solaja Olayemi, acting director, currency operations department at CBN, the apex bank said it commenced spot checks to ensure efficient and responsible cash disbursement to the public and prevent the disbursement of mint banknotes to persons hawking naira…

Bitcoin struck a record high above $93,000 Wednesday as the world’s biggest cryptocurrency benefits from president-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to ease regulation around digital tokens. The volatile asset has rocketed more than 30 percent in value since Trump won last week’s US presidential election, smashing its record-high on several occasions and breaching $90,000 for the first time Wednesday. The Republican said during campaigning that he planned to make the United States the “bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world”. “The main catalyst for the recent surge on the price of bitcoin is the victory of Donald Trump,” Alexander Londono, market…

Apple is planning to launch an AI wall-mounted display tablet capable of controlling home appliances, managing video calls, and utilising artificial intelligence for app navigation, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. The device, internally code-named J490, may be announced as early as March and is expected to feature Apple’s new AI platform, “Apple Intelligence.” According to the report, the high-end version could cost up to $1,000, depending on components, though a display-only model would be significantly cheaper. This potential launch would mark Apple’s move to compete with other smart home products, such as Google’s Nest Hub and Amazon’s Echo Show. Resembling a square iPad roughly the…

Donald Trump will make a triumphant return to the White House to meet President Joe Biden Wednesday, in the Republican’s first visit since departing under a torrent of scandal nearly four years ago. Trump’s meeting with Biden comes as he moves swiftly to name his administration, including the world’s richest man Elon Musk as head of a new group aimed at slashing government spending. Biden invited his sworn rival to meet in the Oval Office — despite the fact that 78-year-old Trump, who has consistently refused to admit his 2020 election loss, never afforded Biden the same courtesy. Biden, 81,…

The Nigeria Customs Service has announced a revenue collection of N5.7 trillion as of November 12, 2024. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Wednesday at the ongoing 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference in Abuja. According to him, the revenue exceeded its target for the year by 10 per cent. The conference is themed “Nigeria Customs Service: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose.” “Today, I stand before you to demonstrate how our commitments in 2023 have evolved into tangible achievements. “The pledge was comprehensive and ambitious- modernizing our processes through a one-stop solution for cargo alerts, revolutionising…

The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo has ordered contractors in the State to return to sites and immediately fix failed portions of roads within the Benin metropolis. Governor Okpebholo gave this directive on Wednesday in Benin City the Edo State capital during an inspection tour of Upper Mission Extension Road by Aduwawa junction, and the Ramat Park Axis in Benin City barely 24 hours after his swearing-in. The governor who decried the bad state of the roads, assured the people that work would commence immediately, as he was in a hurry to bring the dividends of democracy to the…

The Ministry of Defence has handed over three Agusta Westland 109 Trekker Helicopters to the Nigerian Navy. A statement by the Director Naval Information Commodore A Adams-Aliu on Wednesday, said the brief handover ceremony was done at the Caverton Helicopters Limited (CHL) hangar facilities in Ikeja Lagos. The AW 109 Helicopter has a purpose-built VIP configuration with a full leather and noise attenuation system, according to the statement. “Furthermore, the helicopter is designed with a landing skid which gives it a better loading capacity compared to wheeled helicopters. “Additionally, the helicopters are designed with auxiliary tanks which give them extended…