Benin’s finance minister has won a landslide victory in a presidential election, according to provisional results, keeping the coastal west African country on course after a decade of robust economic growth. Wadagni embodies continuity with the era of outgoing president Patrice Talon, which has seen the country enjoy rapid economic growth, an expansion in tourism and the completion of numerous infrastructure projects. He nonetheless faces major challenges, including a huge wealth gap and insecurity in the north due to attacks blamed on jihadist groups. The 49-year-old technocrat was the overwhelming favourite to succeed Talon, who handpicked him, and was backed...
Prime Minister Vows Not To Quit After Mandelson Appointment Row
Keir Starmer has vowed not to quit, insisting he will continue “delivering for our country” despite mounting pressure over the controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson. The Prime Minister made the remarks during Prime Minister’s Questions after the opposition leader challenged him to “take responsibility and go” following the row. The dispute erupted after claims from a former official alleged that Downing Street pressured civil servants to approve Mandelson’s appointment as UK envoy to Washington while downplaying potential security concerns. The government denied the allegations, but the issue intensified after Starmer ultimately dismissed Mandelson over his past links to disgraced financier Jeffrey...
Cyprus Prepares To Host Key EU Leaders’ Summit
Cyprus is ramping up preparations to host a high-level European Union summit, with leaders from across the bloc set to convene on the island to tackle a range of pressing regional and global issues. The gathering is expected to focus heavily on migration pressures in the Mediterranean, energy security amid shifting global markets, economic resilience, and the EU’s broader geopolitical strategy in an increasingly volatile international environment. Cypriot authorities say the summit represents a significant diplomatic moment, offering the country a platform to underscore its strategic importance at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Officials are...
NNPP To Go Ahead With Congresses Despite Dispute Over Recognition
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says the party is going ahead with its congresses that will culminate in its national convention with or without INEC’s obedience to court orders ordering the commission to recognise the Dr Agbo Major led leadership of the party. This was revealed in a statement by the party’s Founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam on Saturday in Lagos. “Our programme of action to conduct congresses, primaries and convention have been submitted to INEC and we are going on to participate in all elective positions, including the presidential in 2027,” Aniebonam said. The party founder said that INEC...
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Airbus Tests Aircraft Capable Of Flying 22 Hours Non-Stop
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Tuesday said its A350-1000ULR widebody aircraft capable of flying up to 22 hours non-stop has successfully...
Boeing Reports Small Loss, Points To Progress On Turnaround
Boeing reported a small quarterly loss following an uptick in commercial plane deliveries as the aerospace giant pointed to progress...
Britain’s King Charles Arrives In US For State Visit
Britain’s King Charles III arrived in Washington on Monday for a high-stakes state visit aimed at repairing strained ties with Donald Trump, amid...
Arts & Culture
Nigeria’s Trendy Handwoven Fabric Makers Push Back Against Automation
In Iseyin, a quiet town in southwestern Nigeria, shaded corners beneath trees, narrow alleys and makeshift sheds hum with life. These humble spaces double as workshops for *aso-oke*, a richly textured handwoven fabric indigenous to the Yoruba people. Demand for the fabric has surged both locally and internationally, driven by the diaspora and the global rise of Nigerian fashion and music. Yet, even as popularity grows, artisans remain firm, as mechanisation, they say, would strip the fabric of its soul. Roughly 200 kilometres from Lagos, Nigeria’s fashion capital, Iseyin is widely regarded as the spiritual home of aso-oke. Under the...
Nature
Nigeria’s Argungu Fishing Festival Returns After Six-Year Hiatus
Thousands of fishermen gathered at the Matan Fada River in northwestern Nigeria as the renowned Argungu International Fishing Festival made a vibrant return after a six-year hiatus caused by insecurity in Kebbi State. Participants plunged into the river with nets and gourds, competing for honours in a spectacle that blends sport, culture and tradition. The festival, one of Nigeria’s most iconic cultural events, drew large crowds of spectators, with colourful displays, music and local festivities adding to the atmosphere. “This year, things went peacefully, and there was a bigger crowd than last time and also we caught a hundred percent...