TheNewsGuru

Tag: London

  • Facebook opens biggest engineering hub outside US in London

    Facebook has opened its new London headquarters on Monday and said it would add 800 more jobs in the capital next year.

    The social media giant said more than half of the people working at the site in central London will focus on engineering, making it Facebook’s biggest engineering hub outside the United States.

    TheNewsGuru reports the London office will also house Facebook’s first in-house start-up incubator, called LDN_LAB, designed to help kick-start fledgling British digital businesses.

    Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook’s EMEA Vice President, said the social network was more committed than ever to the UK and supporting the growth of the country’s innovative startups.

    “The UK’s flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem and international reputation for engineering excellence makes it one of the best places in the world to build a tech company,” she said.

    “And we’ve built our company here – this country has been a huge part of Facebook’s story over the past decade, and I look forward to continuing our work to achieve our mission of bringing the world closer together,” he further stated.

    The new jobs, which come 10 years after the company set up its first London office, will take Facebook’s total British workforce to more than 2,300 by the end of 2018, it said.

    Facebook’s new office in the capital’s West End, designed by architect Frank Gehry, will house engineers, developers, marketing and sales teams working on products like Workplace, its business product which was built in London, it said.

     

  • Mainagate: EFCC discovers £6m pension cash in UK bank

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have found about £6m pension funds in a United Kingdom bank account.

    Reports say the account is being managed by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

    And it was learned that wanted former chairman of the Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, is one of the signatories to the UK bank account.

    But he was recently reported to have returned to the country following his recalling and promotion by the federal government.

    However, amid public outcry over his reinstatement into the civil service, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his immediate sacking.

    And the EFCC swung into action by sealing off properties in Abuja and Kaduna allegedly belonging to him, even though Maina’s family said he inherited those properties from his father long before he joined the civil service.

    “The EFCC has done enough in unraveling pension fraud syndicate in OHCSF, Presidential Pension Reform Task Committee, Police Pension funds and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) check-off dues among others,” a source told The Nation newspaper.

    “It is certainly a huge racket by civil servants some of whom are still in the system. For instance, our team uncovered £6m pension funds in an account in the UK. The money was for the payment of the pensions of some British colonial officers who served in Nigeria.

    A report on the said account in the UK said: “In respect of the Federal Government 6million pounds sterling investment in the UK with Crown agents, it is worth noting that the information was discovered as a result of a search executed in the residence of Dr. Shuaibu Sani Teidi during the course of our investigation.

    “Dr. Shuaibu Sani Teidi failed to disclose the account during his handing over when he was leaving the Head of Service. Mr. Charles Bornant was invited and he confirmed that Dr. Shaibu did not disclose nor include the account in his handing over. Investigation into the account is still ongoing based on relevant information at our disposal.

    “During the course of investigating fraud in the Pension office of the Head of Civil service of the Federation (OHCSF), a search warrant was executed in the residence of Dr. Shaibu Sani Teidi (former director Pension Accounts) where a laptop was recovered. From the analysis of the computer laptop, a document captioned “Report of the visit to Crown Agents Investment United kingdom” was discovered. The document reveals the nature of the investment made by the OHCSF with Crown Agents Investment, UK (copy attached).”

  • Osinbajo in London for FT’s Africa Summit

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Africa Summit, with the theme “What Makes Africa Work, ” taking place in London, from October 8 to October 9.

    The Vice President leaves for London today and is expected back on Monday, his spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande said.

    Akande stated that the Africa Summit hosted by the Financial Times (FT) of London is a global forum, reputed as one of the leading conferences in the world on African business and economic matters.

    He noted that the FT itself has had a relationship with the African continent that stretched back to 125 years ago.

    He said the summit would attract global leaders, economic experts, investors and intellectuals from Africa and around the world.

    “Osinbajo will discuss the increasing economic prospects in Africa and detail the progress of the Buhari administration, especially through the Federal Government’s medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), to the global audience.

    “The summit which will also include presentations from other leaders and speakers will feature first-hand experiences and interactions from government and business leaders in the continent while providing credible opportunities and encouraging foreign investments.

    “So far, the yearly event has become a platform for the dissemination of a more accurate and beneficial narrative of the improving economic environment in Africa,’’ Akande added.

  • JUST IN: Several injured as car rams into crowd outside Natural History Museum in London

    There was pandemonium in on Saturday as vehicle driver rammed through a crowd of people outside the Natural History Museum in London’s South Kensington.

    Many feared injured after the vehicle round through the pedestrians.

    The police confirmed the incident while noting that the driver of the car had already been arrested.

    He was pinned to the ground by police in front of stunned tourists shortly after 2.20pm.

    Witnesses on social media have reported people are receiving medical treatment on the street outside the museum in on Exhibition Road in west London.

    Police have put the area on lockdown. The Victoria and Albert Museum and Harrods are close by.

    A Met Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 1421 on Saturday, 7 October to reports of a collision in Exhibition Road, South Kensington.

    “It is believed that a number of pedestrians have been injured.

    “Officers are on scene, and the London Ambulance Service have been called.

    “A man has been detained at the scene.

    “Enquiries to establish the circumstances and motive are underway.

    “If you have any information about this incident, please call 101.”

    BBC reports there are armed police and armed response vehicles on the scene.

    The Natural History Museum tweeted after the incident: “There’s been a serious incident outside the Museum. We are working w/ @metpoliceuk and will provide an update when we have more information”.

     

    Details later…

  • Government confirms Birmingham, to host 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Birmingham’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been officially backed by the government.

     

    Birmingham beat Liverpool earlier in September as Britain’s candidate city.

     

    The cost of staging the event is expected to be at least £750m, which would be the most expensive sports event in Britain since London 2012.

     

    Announcing Birmingham will be the UK’s official candidate city.

     

    Culture Secretary, Karen Bradley, said “The Government believes it would provide value for money and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham would be brilliant. It would showcase the best of Britain to the world and make the entire country proud.”

     

  • BREAKING: Buhari returns to Nigeria from London

    President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to the country after a stopover in London.

    The President’s aircraft touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja some few minutes ago.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President jetted out of the country last week Sunday to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

    The Presidency had hinted before President Buhari left the country that he would travel through London on his way back from New York.

    Although the reason for the stopover is uncertain, Adesina told Channels Television on Friday that the trip would not exceed its scheduled timeframe.

    “One thing is sure; the trip was to last between last Sunday and next Sunday/Monday.

    “Though he is going to the UK, everything will still be done within the timeframe of the trip,” Adesina had said.

    While in the US, President Buhari addressed the gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly and also had lunch with President Donald Trump.

    He had assured the international community of Nigeria’s firm and unshaken commitment to democracy and the African continent.

    The President had also asked the world leaders present at the gathering to cooperate and support the United Nations in order to overcome growing global threats including terrorism, modern-day slavery and cybercrime.

     

    Details later…

  • Buhari leaves New York, now in London

    Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, has said his principal arrived the United Kingdom safely.

    Buhari departed New York earlier on Thursday where he attended the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.

    The Presidency had hinted before President Buhari left the country that he would travel through London on his way back from New York.

    Although the reason for the stopover is uncertain, Adesina told Channels Television on Friday that the trip would not exceed its scheduled timeframe.

    “One thing is sure; the trip was to last between last Sunday and next Sunday/Monday.

    “Though he is going to the UK, everything will still be done within the timeframe of the trip,” Adesina had said.

    While in the US, President Buhari addressed the gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly and also had lunch with President Donald Trump.

    He had assured the international community of Nigeria’s firm and unshaken commitment to democracy and the African continent.

    The President had also asked the world leaders present at the gathering to cooperate and support the United Nations in order to overcome growing global threats including terrorism, modern-day slavery and cybercrime.

  • London bombing is enough reason to expand US travel ban – Trump

    President Donald Trump called on Friday for a “tougher and more specific” US travel ban after a homemade bomb exploded on a London train.

    In a flurry of early-morning tweets, Trump called the explosion another attack “by a loser terrorist” and suggested London police missed an opportunity to prevent it. He added that his travel ban targeting six mostly Muslim nations should be “far larger, tougher and more specific – but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!”

    The bomb exploded on a packed train during rush hour on Friday, leaving at least 22 people injured but no one seriously hurt. Police said the explosion was a terrorist attack, the fifth in Britain this year.

    “Another attack in London by a loser terrorist,” Trump tweeted. “These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!”

    Scotland Yard said it would not comment Trump’s suggestion that police could have prevented the attack.

    Trump told reporters Friday morning that he had been briefed on the explosion and said he planned to call British Prime Minister Theresa May. Asked about his tweet on the travel ban, Trump said “we have to be tougher and we have to be smarter.”

    Trump’s tough talk came a day after he drew conservative criticism for pursuing an agreement with Democrats on young immigrants who had been living in the country illegally.

    ‘Proactive and nasty’

    Trump said Thursday he was “fairly close” to an agreement that could protect these so-called “dreamers” while also adding border security, as long as his wall with Mexico would be separately addressed.

    The president has repeatedly criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the British capital’s first Muslim leader.

    In June, after attacks in the London Bridge area that claimed seven lives, Khan warned locals not to be alarmed by the large presence of armed officers on the capital’s streets. Trump accused the mayor on Twitter of suggesting there was “no reason to be alarmed” by the attack itself.

    On Friday, Trump again jumped into the fray, promoting his handling of extremist militants and saying the government should cut of the internet to such groups.

    “Loser terrorists must be dealt with in a much tougher manner. The internet is their main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!” And he argued that his administration has “made more progress in the last nine months against ISIS than the Obama Administration has made in 8 years.”

    Trump concluded: “Must be proactive & nasty!”

    Trump’s travel ban has been ensnared in the courts since Trump’s first attempt to enact the policy in January. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Oct. 10 on the legality of the bans on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries and refugees anywhere in the world.

    It’s unclear, though, what will be left for the court to decide. The 90-day travel ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen lapses in late September, and the 120-day refugee ban will expire a month later. The administration has yet to say whether it will seek to renew the bans, make them permanent or expand the travel ban to other countries.

    AP

  • Buhari presides over first FEC meeting since return from London

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting for the first time since his return from London on August 19 after spending about 103 days treating an undisclosed ailment.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President last week canceled the FEC meeting on accounts that he had other important official matters to attend to.

    Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina later told newsmen that the president was not mandated by law to hold the FEC meeting weekly especially when there are other urgent matters of national importance to attend to.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that at the commencement of today’s FEC meeting, ministers and other top government officials present offered special prayers and also thanked God for sparing the president’s life.

    The prayer session was led by the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

    The ministers thanked God for bringing the President back “in peace not in pieces’’.

    While expressing hope that the President’s return would reinvigorate the cabinet and the nation’s economy, the ministers prayed for all Nigerians and for the country.

     

     

    Details later…

  • Buhari mocks #Resumeorresign London protesters, says ‘I am home, come join me’

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reacted to the several protests that held while he was in London on medical vacation.

    The President especially mocked the #ResumeOrResign protesters who protested in front of the Abuja House in London, United Kingdom, demanding that he (Buhari) should either resume office or resign.

    The President noted that now that he is home, the protesters should also join him.

    Buhari also said that he was happy about national prayers held for his quick recovery, noting that the prayers cut across all religions and ethnic groups.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President, who returned to the country last Saturday after spending 103 days in London receiving treatments for undisclosed ailments, spoke at a meeting he had with state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    During his meeting with governors, Buhari, however, said, “I am very happy with the national prayers that cut across religions and ethnicity; people were praying.

    “In fact, some groups in London came and sang the national anthem and asked that I should go back home. Indeed, I have come back home. I hope those who went there are not stuck there. (I hope) they will come back and join us.

    “Those that are stuck there with the Brexit, I hope they have weighed the implications that it won’t affect them, including those that have property there.

    “Those who are not paying tax here; I hope when they sell their property there, they will bring some of the money here. We need it very badly here.”