General news

• 10 oldest popes in history

  21-04-2025 13:53 via vanguardngr.com
  The passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88, on Monday, marked the end of a papacy defined by compassion, humility, and a commitment to reform.
  Known for his deep concern for the poor and marginalised, he remained active and engaged until his final days. His death not only leaves a profound legacy but also places him among the oldest popes in the long and storied history of the Catholic Church.The papacy, one of the world’s oldest continuous institutions, has been led by men of varying a
  
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• Venezuela must not fall into chaos, Erdogan tells Trump

  05-01-2026 21:18 via vanguardngr.com
  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday he had told his US counterpart Donald Trump that Venezuela must not collapse into chaos, days after the US ousted his ally Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.Erdogan said he spoke over the phone with Trump about the US operation that resulted in Maduro being seized in Caracas and transferred to the US.“Any attack on the sovereignty of the people and any violation of international law will generate serious complications within the internatio
  
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• Fire guts recycling site in Lagos

  05-01-2026 20:37 via vanguardngr.com
  By Efe OnodjaeA fire outbreak on Monday afternoon razed an open-space recycling site in Abule Egba, Lagos, damaging nearby properties before it was brought under control.The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it received a distress call at about 1:08 p.m., prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters from the Agege and Abesan fire stations to the scene.Preliminary investigations revealed that the inferno started from an open area used for local recycling activities, reportedly opera
  
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• Salah seals AFCON last-16 victory for Egypt over brave Benin

  05-01-2026 20:24 via vanguardngr.com
  Captain Mohamed Salah scored after 124 minutes to clinch a 3-1 extra-time victory for Egypt over plucky minnows Benin in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 thriller in Agadir on Monday.Marwan Attia put the Pharaohs ahead in the second half and Jodel Dossou equalised for the Cheetahs, taking the match to an additional 30 minutes in the southern Moroccan coastal city.Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt back in front in the first half of extra time, then Salah broke clear and beat goalkeeper Marcel Dandjino
  
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• Adamawa: Again, troops dismantle suicide bombing network, intercepts terrorists logistics

  05-01-2026 20:21 via vanguardngr.com
  By Ndahi Marama, MaiduguriTroops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have recorded significant operational successes in Adamawa State during intensified cordon-and-search operations targeting perpetrators and facilitators of the Gamboru Market Mosque suicide bombing.As part of the operation, OPHK troops carried out a coordinated cordon-and-search exercise in the Yan Lemo area of Mubi South Local Government Area in the early hours of January 5, 2026, during which eight suspects were apprehended, inclu
  
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• Live updates: AFCON 2025 – Nigeria 3-0 Mozambique

  05-01-2026 19:55 via vanguardngr.com
  54′
  Mozambique goalkeeper Siluane is down again and receives treatment, with his left knee being strapped.52′
  Witi gets on the end of a ball over the top and has a chance to pull one back, but Ndidi recovers well to make the block.47′ GOAL! Nigeria 3-0 Mozambique | Osimhen
  A dream start to the second half for Nigeria as Lookman glides into the box and squares for Osimhen, who taps home from close range.
  46′ – Mozambique make changes at the break, with Domingues and
  
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• Live updates: AFCON 2025 – Nigeria 2-0 Mozambique

  05-01-2026 19:55 via vanguardngr.com
  45′On the stroke of half-time, Adams sends Reinildo the wrong way and gets a shot away, but he drags it wide.42′
  Mozambique break quickly as Calila counters, but Bassey stops him.42′
  Nigeria are settled in the final third, pressing for a third goal with some intent.38′
  A few incidents: Bruno Langa and Osayi clash, but play continues. Ndidi and Domingues clash too, and Ndidi is booked for a high hand, though it seems unintentional.37′
  Reinildo makes another crucial
  
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• Live updates: AFCON 2025 – Nigeria 1-0 Mozambique

  05-01-2026 19:55 via vanguardngr.com
  20′ – GOAL!
  Ademola Lookman smashes one past Hernâni Siluane to put Nigeria in the lead!16′
  Nigeria waste another great chance as Adams tries to go solo, running into trouble despite Osimhen being up with him. Mozambique counter, but Domingues’ cross is poor and ends up in Nwabali’s hands.16′
  Nigeria waste another great chance as Adams tries to go solo, running into trouble despite Osimhen being up with him. Mozambique counter, but Domingues’ cros
  
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• Stay away from Rivers, Wike warns APC Nat’l Sec; resign, Basiru fires back

  05-01-2026 19:53 via vanguardngr.com
  By Omeiza Ajayi & Daniel AbiaThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has warned the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ajibola Basiru, to stay away from the internal politics of Rivers State, accusing him of only being interested in the state’s resources.However, in a swift reaction, Basiru cautioned Wike against what he described as attempts to destabilise the party.He called on the minister to “immediately resign” from the
  
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• FG introduces new measures to curb examination malpractices

  05-01-2026 19:44 via vanguardngr.com
  The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at eliminating examination malpractices in 2026 and beyond.This measure is geared towards eliminating examination malpractices in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday by Mrs Folasade Boriowo, Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education.Boriowo said the new ini
  
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• Nigeria XI vs Mozambique: Nwabali starts, Ndidi captains as Osimhen leads attack

  05-01-2026 19:26 via vanguardngr.com
  Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has released Nigeria’s starting line-up for Monday night’s clash against Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, naming a strong XI for the Round of 16 encounter.Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali returns between the sticks, while the defence features a familiar back four of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Bruno Onyemaechi.Wilfred Ndidi captains the side from midfield, partnering Frank Onyeka, with Alex Iwobi also hande
  
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• Wike’s ally, Desmond Akawor, accuses Gov. Fubara of stalling devt in Oyigbo

  05-01-2026 19:22 via vanguardngr.com
  By Omeiza AjayiABUJA: Former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea and Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of stalling development in Oyigbo Local Government Area since assuming office.Akawor made the allegation on Monday during a “thank you” visit to Oyigbo by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, where he lamented what he described as the absence of tangible progress in the counc
  
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• Don’t exclude anyone, Gov Abdulrazaq says as APC begins e-registration in Kwara

  05-01-2026 19:20 via vanguardngr.com
  ….Says ‘I’m proud of our strides, leaving Kwara more developed than we met it’Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday flagged off the e-registration and revalidation of membership for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.The Governor, who was documented as the first registrant of the party in the state, said the exercise is designed to strengthen the party and ensure accurate membership tally for planning.He said everyone who wishes to register
  
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• Court jails ex-Lagos director 29 months for N48.9m bank theft

  05-01-2026 19:17 via vanguardngr.com
  An Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a former Lagos State Education Director, Olawale Faleti, to two years and five months’ imprisonment for stealing N48.9 million from Access Bank.Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted Faleti, 64, on five counts of stealing, after finding him guilty of charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Delivering judgment, Oshodi held that Faleti’s actions were calculated, noting he made repeated wi
  
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• 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Sanwo-Olu gifts N100m, houses, others to Nigeria legion

  05-01-2026 19:04 via vanguardngr.com
  …launches appeal fund, emblemBy Olasunkanmi AkoniLagos States Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has donated the sum of ₦100 million, four units of two-bedroom apartments in Ajara, and two pick-up utility vehicles to the State Council of the Nigerian Legion as part of events to mark the Year 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations.Sanwo-Olu, also donated four cows, 500 bags of rice and other food items to members of the Nigerian Legion as part of his administration’s commit
  
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• Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty in New York court

  05-01-2026 18:50 via vanguardngr.com
  Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism in a New York court on Monday, two days after being snatched by US forces in a stunning raid on his home in Caracas.Maduro, 63, told a federal judge in Manhattan that he had been “kidnapped” from Venezuela and said “I’m innocent, I’m not guilty,” US media reported.“I’m still the president of my country,” he was quoted as saying.Maduro’s wife Ci
  
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• ADC links Nigeria’s silence on Venezuela to crisis of ‘legitimacy’

  05-01-2026 18:48 via vanguardngr.com
  By Luminous JannamikeABUJA – The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has said Nigeria’s failure to respond to the reported action by the United States against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro exposes a crisis of legitimacy and moral authority under the Bola Tinubu administration.The party said the development serves as a warning to governments that lack legitimacy and signals that authoritarian leaders and election riggers can no longer rely on national borders to shield stolen man
  
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• Bitcoin surges above $93k after U.S. captures Venezuelan President Maduro

  05-01-2026 18:39 via vanguardngr.com
  Bitcoin and cryptocurrency prices traded higher early Monday, continuing their weekend climb following the U.S. capture and extraction of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.President Donald Trump on Saturday announced the U.S. is “going to run” Venezuela until there is an opportunity for a “safe, proper and judicious transition,” after detaining Maduro on drug and weapons charges.
  Trump also said that U.S. oil companies will begin investing in Venezuela’s oil infra
  
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• IJGB shares experience after spending 16 days at Nigeria’s Detty December festivities

  05-01-2026 18:20 via vanguardngr.com
  A US-based Nigerian who goes by the name Iamisiuwa has recounted her recent 16-day trip to Nigeria’s famous Detty December festivities.In a recent post, she highlighted some of the things she experienced in Nigeria while expressing satisfaction of being back home.“I just came back from Detty December in Lagos, Nigeria and here’s what I realize in my 16 days stay; there’s no WiFi in Nigeria, they put spice in everything, there’s too much begging in Nigeria and they
  
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• ‘That’s enough’: Greenland PM urges Trump to drop annex threats

  05-01-2026 18:17 via vanguardngr.com
  President Donald Trump’s call for Greenland to become part of the United States drew international condemnation on Monday, with the autonomous Danish territory’s prime minister warning: “That’s enough now.”Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears about Greenland, the mineral-rich Arctic territory which Trump has repeatedly said he wants to annex.“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not go
  
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• 2027: NNPP will surprise those underrating it at the polls, says Kwankwaso

  05-01-2026 18:16 via vanguardngr.com
  By Bashir BelloKANO — The National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has warned political opponents underestimating the party to expect surprises at the polls, asserting that NNPP will defy expectations in the upcoming elections.Kwankwaso spoke while addressing supporters at his residence on Miller Road, Kano, saying the party is being underrated by those unfamiliar with the dynamics of Nigerian politics.“A lot of people who don&rsq
  
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• FG targets economic stability, social relief as 2026 budget supports Tinubu’s reform agenda – Information Minister

  05-01-2026 18:14 via vanguardngr.com
  By Joseph Erunke, AbujaThe federal government has positioned the 2026 Appropriation Bill as a strategic tool to consolidate ongoing economic and social reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with early signs indicating the administration’s policy direction is beginning to yield results.Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in an opinion article published on Monday titled “A Defining Moment for Nigeria: Why Staying the Course Matters.&rdquo
  
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• Nigeria’s problem is leadership, not resources – Obi

  05-01-2026 18:06 via vanguardngr.com
  By Luminous JannamikeFormer Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said Nigeria’s persistent economic decline is the result of leadership failure rather than a lack of resources, warning that the country has fallen far behind peers such as India, which has now overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP.Obi made the remarks in a statement issued on Monday, following IMF estimates for 2025, which show India’s GDP at about $4.187 trillion, slightly
  
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• Resign, stop destabilising our party, APC national secretary tells Wike

  05-01-2026 17:40 via vanguardngr.com
  By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, has warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to desist from what he described as attempts to destabilise the party.He insisted that the minister should “immediately resign” from the President Bola Tinubu administration if he cannot stop interfering in the party’s affairs.Basiru, in a strongly worded statement issued on Monday in Abuja said h
  
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• Israel won’t let Iran restore ballistic missile programme – Netanyahu

  05-01-2026 17:34 via vanguardngr.com
  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel would not allow arch-foe Iran to restore its ballistic missile programme, just days after US President Donald Trump issued a similar threat.“We will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry, and certainly we will not allow it renew the nuclear programme that we significantly damaged,” Netanyahu told lawmakers.“If we are attacked, the consequences for Iran will be very severe,” he said.Netanyahu&rsq
  
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• AfroPari’s 2025 highlights: growth, player-centric strategy, and big wins

  05-01-2026 17:28 via vanguardngr.com
  The past year proved both significant and successful for AfroPari. The African bookmaker continued to evolve by grounding its development in real player experience, leveraging feedback, on-platform behavior, and user requests. This approach enabled the brand to meet audience expectations while continuously refining its service.AfroPari enhanced its product across multiple areas, including financial operations, usability, game selection, and more.Localized payment solutionsOver the course of the
  
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• 8 best smartphones of 2025

  05-01-2026 17:19 via vanguardngr.com
  With smartphones now central to daily life, competition among top brands has never been fiercer. In 2025, manufacturers pushed boundaries in performance, camera technology, AI features and battery endurance.
  After extensive testing of leading devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus and others, these are the top eight smartphones of the year, each excelling in a specific category.1. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL – Best OverallThe Pixel 10 Pro XL offers the most complete smartph
  
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• Wike celebrates nominations of Abe, Kobani into NUPRC, NMDPRA by Tinubu

  05-01-2026 17:12 via vanguardngr.com
  Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Monday, celebrated the nomination of Sen. Magnus Abe from Rivers, as Board Chairman, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) by President Bola Tinubu.Wike thanked Tinubu for the appointment during his “thank you” visit to Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of the state.The minister equally lauded the nomination of Mr Kenneth Kobani, another son of Rivers, as a non-executive member of the Nigerian Midst
  
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• Sapele was never an Okpe Community – Uduaghan

  05-01-2026 17:06 via vanguardngr.com
  Insists PPL 220 land belongs to Abigborodo CommunityTackles Udogun Okpe, Sapele Okpe Community leadersThe Alema of Warri, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, has asserted that all the demands of the Orodje in Council should be discountenanced as the said claims are unfounded in historical facts and law.‘’The land where PPL 220 is situated belongs to Abigborodo Community’’He also stated that Ajaji, Ugwo, Ajimele, Aji-Dore, Obotie and Irakpa are Itsekiri communities.&lsq
  
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• Venezuela: ECOWAS urges respect for state sovereignty, international law

  05-01-2026 16:58 via vanguardngr.com
  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged the international community to respect the sovereignty of nation-states and the principles of international law.The Commission made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja following the recent arrest and deportation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to the U.S. by operatives of the U.S.’ Delta Force.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the U.S. special forces invaded the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, on Jan. 3
  
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