Author: Vardiafrica

Keir Starmer on Friday promised to “rebuild Britain” as he took office as the UK’s new prime minister following his centre-left Labour party’s landslide general election victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Head of state King Charles III asked Starmer to form a government during a meeting at Buckingham Palace, officially appointing the 61-year-old former human rights lawyer as prime minister Flag-waving crowds of cheering Labour activists lined Downing Street as Starmer arrived as the party’s first prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010. “Now, our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return…

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has threatened to shut down varsities across the nation and will on Tuesday protest country-wide to press home its demands SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have been in talks with the Federal Government over the four months salary arrears owed their members. It had some months back embarked on a warning strike and most recently gave the government a two-week ultimatum to meet its demands. But the union is accusing the Federal Government of making promises and not matching words with action, threatening to cripple activities on campuses…

Rishi Sunak on Friday apologised to the public after his Conservatives were trounced by Labour in the UK general election, and said he would step down as party leader. The 44-year-old former financier gambled on going to the country six months before he had to, hoping that better economic data would swing public support back towards the Tories. But Thursday’s vote indicated that Britons wanted to send a clear message to the party by kicking them out of power after 14 years of economic hardships, Brexit upheaval and Tory infighting. “To the country, I would like to say first and…

British leader Rishi Sunak conceded defeat Friday to Keir Starmer’s main opposition Labour party in the UK general election, saying, “I take responsibility for the loss”. “Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner with goodwill on all sides,” said Sunak, as his Conservative party appeared heading for historic defeat to Labour. The result ends 14 years of Conservative government during which five prime ministers ran the country. Sunak became the prime minister on October 25, 2022, the youngest British Asian and the first Hindu to be in that position The 42-year-old is the youngest British Prime…

Keir Starmer on Friday will become Britain’s new prime minister, as his centre-left opposition Labour party swept to a landslide general election victory, ending 14 years of right-wing Conservative rule. “The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory,” a sombre-looking Rishi Sunak said after he was re-elected to his seat. “Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner with goodwill on all sides,” the Tory leader added, calling the results “sobering” and saying he took responsibility for the defeat. At a triumphant party rally…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended 10 private jet operators over failure to commence the recertification process. A statement signed by NCAA’s Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the suspension was rooted in its Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4 which forbids holders of Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) from using their aircraft for carriage of passengers, cargo or mail for hire or reward which is commercial operation or charter service. The suspended operators are Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd, Bli-Aviation Safety Services, Ferry Aviation Developments Ltd, Matrix Energy Ltd, Marrietta Management Services Ltd, Worldwide…

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited Mallam Mele Kyari has declared that the drive to bring Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) closer to Nigerians has since commenced and is irreversible. Kyari, who disclosed this on Thursday during the simultaneous commissioning of 12 CNG stations in Abuja and Lagos, said in addition to the massive deployment of CNG stations nationwide, the NNPC Ltd and its partners would also build three Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations in Ajaokuta. “There is simply no way to turn back on delivering CNG for all Nigerians. It is the right thing to do. Is it…

President of the Economic Community of West African State, Omar Touray, has regretted that despite numerous deliberations, ECOWAS has been unable to persuade Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to reverse their decision to withdraw from the regional bloc Touray said this during the opening ceremony of the 92nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers on Thursday in Abuja. He noted that despite the efforts of ECOWAS to engage these countries, their response has not been positive. After the military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS since January 2024, the regional bloc…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) tasked with strategising a way out of the current economic situation in the country. The Council has a mix of government officials, top private sector players, and consultants including President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Aliko Dangote; Chairman of the United Bank of Africa, Mr Tony Elumelu; and Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane. Briefing State House Correspondents after the Inauguration of the Council, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun said the Council is to meet…

Kylian Mbappe said Thursday it would be “an honour” to play against his boyhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo when France and Portugal meet in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 in Hamburg on Friday. “It is an honour. Everyone knows about my admiration for Cristiano,” France captain Mbappe, 25, told reporters on the eve of the game. Growing up, Mbappe famously decorated his bedroom wall with pictures of Ronaldo and was introduced to the Portuguese superstar at Real Madrid’s training ground when the Spanish club tried to sign him as a young teenager. “I have got to know him over time. We…