General news

• Pope pushed himself knowing he ‘did not have long left’ – Vatican source

  21-04-2025 21:17 via vanguardngr.com
  Pope Francis looked visibly drained when he drove around St Peter’s Square in his popemobile on Easter Sunday, cheered by a rapt crowd in what became his final public appearance.Aged 88 and weakened by five weeks battling double pneumonia in hospital, some in the Vatican suspect the head of the Catholic Church knew that his strength was abandoning him.Among Catholics gathered outside the Vatican on Monday to pray after the death of Francis was announced, many saw his Easter appearance as
  
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• FG fulfils housing, land pledge to Super Eagles for AFCON 2023 performance

  22-12-2025 23:50 via vanguardngr.com
  The Federal Government has fulfilled its pledge of housing and land allocations to members of the Super Eagles following their runner-up finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that players have received certificates for the plots of land and housing units promised by President Bola Tinubu.According to the federation, the documents were presented to the players at the team’s camp in Fez, Morocco, on Monday.Niger
  
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• Education gets 25%, each ward N100m, as Uba Sani signs 2026 budget

  22-12-2025 23:32 via vanguardngr.com
  Governor Uba Sani has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, with education taking the largest share of 25% of the N985.9 billion budget of Kaduna State.Speaking at the Council Chambers of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the governor said that the budget “reflects our resolve to consolidate the gains we have made while laying even stronger foundations for sustainable growth.”Governor Uba Sani disclosed that ₦698.9 billion, representing 70.9 percent of the budget, has been devo
  
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• US to suspend visa issuance to Nigerians from January 1, 2026

  22-12-2025 23:24 via vanguardngr.com
  The United States will partially suspend the issuance of visas to Nigeriana from January 1, 2026.According to a statement by the U.S. Department of State on Monday, the suspension applies to nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as all categories of immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure, alongside Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Ga
  
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• Liverpool rocked by Isak blow after surgery on ankle injury

  22-12-2025 22:51 via vanguardngr.com
  Liverpool striker Alexander Isak faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after the Premier League champions revealed he had surgery on an ankle injury that includes a fibula fracture on Monday.Isak, signed from Newcastle for a British record £125 million ($168 million) in September, suffered the injury in the process of scoring in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Tottenham on Saturday.The 26-year-old was tackled by Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven and limped off immediately after his goal.&
  
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• Oil spill: FG vows to enforce environmental laws in Ogoniland

  22-12-2025 22:32 via vanguardngr.com
  By Folarin Kehinde, AbujaThe federal government has vowed strict enforcement of environmental regulations in Ogoniland as it steps up efforts to address the oil spill at Yorla Well 14 in the Kpean community, Rivers State.The Director-General and Chief Executive of NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, stated this on Monday during an inspection visit to the spill site, where he led a high-powered federal delegation to assess environmental damage and ongoing remediation efforts.Engr Woke stressed that
  
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• Yuletide: NRC slashes train fares by 50%

  22-12-2025 21:50 via vanguardngr.com
  By Folarin Kehinde, AbujaThe Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has announced a 50 per cent reduction in train fares nationwide for the Yuletide season as part of efforts by the Federal Government to ease the cost of travel for Nigerians.Opeifa disclosed this on TVC News Breakfast shared on his X handle, noting that the discount will run from December 23 to January 4.According to him, the fare reduction is coming at a time when transportation costs ac
  
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• Russia pledges ‘full support’ for Venezuela against US ‘hostilities’

  22-12-2025 21:28 via vanguardngr.com
  Russia on Monday expressed “full support” for Venezuela as the South American country confronts a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by US forces deployed in the Caribbean.The pledge from Moscow, itself embroiled in the war in Ukraine, came on the eve of a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting Tuesday to discuss the mounting crisis between Caracas and Washington.In a phone call, the foreign ministers of the allied nations blasted the US actions, which have included strikes on alleged d
  
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• US conducts surveillance flights over Nigeria after Trump’s threat – Report

  22-12-2025 21:12 via vanguardngr.com
  The United States has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, flight tracking data and current and former U.S. officials show, signalling heightened security cooperation between the two countries, according to Reuters.The exclusive report on Monday said the purpose of the surveillance missions could not be immediately and independently confirmed.The operations come weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump warned in November that Washington
  
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• AFCON ’25: Foster grabs South Africa winner against Angola

  22-12-2025 20:28 via vanguardngr.com
  Burnley striker Lyle Foster scored on 79 minutes as South Africa edged Angola 2-1 in Marrakesh on Monday to win their opening match of an Africa Cup of Nations campaign for the first time in 21 years.Since beating Benin in the 2004 tournament, Bafana Bafana have drawn twice and lost four times when they debuted in different editions of the premier African football tournament.The opening Group B match had three distinct phases. South Africa started impressively and Oswin Appollis scored on 21 min
  
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• Netanyahu vows independence of commission of inquiry into Oct 7

  22-12-2025 20:19 via vanguardngr.com
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed a government decision Monday to establish a commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, assuring the public that it would not be subject to political influence.“Today the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the bill to establish a special state commission of inquiry,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.“This will be a balanced committee to investigate the events of October 7 and the circumstances that led to the
  
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• Army Chief orders troops in Kwara, Edo, Kogi to intensify offensive against criminals

  22-12-2025 19:44 via vanguardngr.com
  By Kingsley OmonobiThe Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops deployed across Kwara, Edo, and Kogi states to intensify offensive operations aimed at decisively flushing out kidnappers and other criminal elements.Lt. Gen. Shaibu issued the directive on Monday, 22 December 2025, while addressing officers and soldiers at Odugbo Barracks, Ibadan, during his maiden operational visit to the 2 Division Area of Responsibility.“Go after the kidnappers and
  
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• Trump removes dozens of career ambassadors appointed under Biden

  22-12-2025 19:42 via vanguardngr.com
  The Trump administration is removing dozens of ambassadors appointed under the Biden administration as part of a broad reshuffle to align the diplomatic corps with its foreign policy priorities.The heads of mission, mostly career diplomats, have been notified they must leave their posts by mid-January, according to the American Foreign Service Association, which represents State Department employees.Press reports said ambassadors from 30 countries will be affected, particularly in Africa.The re
  
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• Lagos court sentences man to 13 months community service for illegal waste dumping

  22-12-2025 19:40 via vanguardngr.com
  By Olasunkanmi AkoniA special Offences Mobile Court in Oshodi, Lagos State, on Monday sentenced 48-year-old Makinde Rasaq to 13 months of community service at Kirikiri Correctional Centre for illegally dumping waste in Lagos Island.Makinde, who was arrested with a Honda SUV filled with refuse, pleaded guilty to seven charges, including breach of peace, indiscriminate dumping of waste, non-patronage of Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators, illegal transportation of waste without a valid li
  
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• More Abducted Nigerian Children Are Released, Government Says

  22-12-2025 19:34 via nytimes.com
  A spokesman for the Nigerian government said the “remaining” students taken from a Catholic school had been freed, but the local diocese said that only a “second batch” had been released.
  
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• UK singer Chris Rea dies at 74, days before Christmas

  22-12-2025 19:32 via vanguardngr.com
  British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, best known for the 1980s festive hit “Driving Home for Christmas”, has died at the age of 74, his family announced on Monday.“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris,” a spokesperson for his wife and two children said in a statement shared with UK media.“He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”A post on his official social m
  
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• Uba Sani signs 2026 budget, education takes lion’s share

  22-12-2025 19:30 via vanguardngr.com
  Governor Uba Sani has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, with Education taking the largest share of 25% of the N985.9 billion budget of Kaduna State.Speaking at the Council Chambers of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, the Governor said that the budget ‘’reflects our resolve to consolidate the gains we have made while laying even stronger foundations for sustainable growth.’’Governor Uba Sani disclosed that ₦698.9 billion, representing 70.9 percent of t
  
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• ‘Oversabi Aunty’ earns N99.8m in opening weekend

  22-12-2025 19:17 via vanguardngr.com
  ‘Oversabi Aunty’ has recorded a strong debut at the Nigerian box office, grossing N99.8 million in its opening weekend to emerge as the second highest-grossing film of the weekend.Read Also: Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ Crosses ₦512m in one weekThe movie, distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, also ranks as Nollywood’s second highest opening film of 2025, underscoring a solid start in cinemas nationwide.In a post shared on its official Insta
  
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• Gov Alia presents N605.5bn 2026 budget to Benue Assembly

  22-12-2025 19:11 via vanguardngr.com
  …Focuses on Rural Development and Livelihood SupportBy Peter Duru, MakurdiThe Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Monday presented a N605.5 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the Benue State House of Assembly, with strong emphasis on rural development, livelihood support, and sustained economic growth.Titled “Budget of Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth,” the proposal comprises N281.09 billion for recurrent expenditure
  
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• AFCON ’25: We’ve plans to stop Osimhen – Tanzania coach Gomandi

  22-12-2025 19:06 via vanguardngr.com
  By Enitan AbdutawabTanzania head coach, Manuel Gomandi, says his team has put a tactical plan in place to neutralise Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen, ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations clash, while warning that the Super Eagles’ attacking depth remains a major threat.Speaking at the press conference on the eve of the group-stage encounter, Gomandi said Tanzania’s preparations have focused on limiting Osimhen’s influence but stressed that Nigeria’s attacking options mak
  
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• Ghana passes law to legalise cryptocurrency

  22-12-2025 19:00 via vanguardngr.com
  Ghana’s parliament has legalized cryptocurrency, taking a major step toward regulating the fast-growing digital asset market.
  The move responds to concerns from the Bank of Ghana over widespread, unregulated crypto use, with nearly 3 million Ghanaians—around 17% of adults—reportedly involved in transactions.The Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill will allow licensing of crypto platforms and oversight of their activities.
  Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama said the law will
  
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• Sanwo-Olu swears in speaker’s son, Vinod Obasa’s as Agege LG boss

  22-12-2025 18:56 via vanguardngr.com
  By Olasunkanmi AkoniLagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, swore-in the Vice-Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Mr Abdul Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, son of the Speaker, state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa as the substantive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area.Sanwo-Olu, however, described the event as a call to service to the people of Agege and Lagos in general, urging him to prioritise grassroots development and align his administration with the state’s development
  
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• Extractive sector vital to Nigeria’s economic stability – Akume

  22-12-2025 18:53 via vanguardngr.com
  By Obas Esiedesa, AbujaNigeria’s extractive sector remains central to the country’s economic stability, revenue mobilisation, and long-term development, even as the Federal Government intensifies preparations for the nation’s next validation under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said.Akume, who also chairs the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI
  
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• Video: Patson Daka lands on his neck while attempting acrobatic celebration at Afcon

  22-12-2025 18:50 via vanguardngr.com
  Leicester star Patson Daka was lucky to avoid a serious injury after landing on his neck while celebrating a goal at the Africa Cup of Nations.The 27-year-old striker scored a stoppage-time equaliser in Zambia’s group stage stalemate with Mali.Daka grabbed a share of the spoils with a stunning diving header after Lassine Sinayoko thought he had found the winner.
  WTF.. Patson Daka landed on his neck trying to do a backflip celebration after scoring a last minute goal for Zambia against Mal
  
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• FG orders mandatory drug testing for public service applicants

  22-12-2025 18:48 via vanguardngr.com
  By Omeiza AjayiABUJA: The Federal Government has approved a new policy making “mandatory pre-employment drug testing” a key requirement for all prospective entrants into the public service.The directive was issued through a service-wide circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSGF to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs, as well as extra-ministerial departments.A statement by Director of Information and Public Relations in the OSGF
  
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• Insecurity: Sanwo-Olu explains how Lagos will integrate state police

  22-12-2025 18:47 via vanguardngr.com
  Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has explained how the state plans to integrate a proposed state police structure into its existing security framework to tackle rising insecurity and improve coordination among law enforcement agencies.Sanwo-Olu spoke on Monday during an interview on TVC, where he reiterated his support for the creation of state police, describing it as a necessary step toward building a more responsive and effective security system.According to the governor, the introd
  
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• No terrorist group domiciles in Iwo, says Oluwo

  22-12-2025 18:43 via vanguardngr.com
  By Shina Abubakar, OsogboThe traditional ruler of Iwo, Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has dismissed reports claiming the existence of a terrorist group in the town, describing such claims as false and deliberately intended to discredit Iwo’s security and religious integrity.The rumours surfaced after an Islamic group based in Iwo was featured on social media last week showing its leader and followers reciting Arabic texts in support of the Palestinian cause. The group was subsequent
  
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• Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ Crosses ₦512m in one week

  22-12-2025 18:42 via vanguardngr.com
  Award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has set a new milestone in Nollywood with her latest film, “Behind The Scenes,” which has become the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of 2025, surpassing ₦500 million in just one week.The achievement further cements Akindele’s reputation as a box office powerhouse.FilmOne Entertainment, the film’s distributor, revealed that “Behind The Scenes” broke five opening-weekend records, becoming the first Nollyw
  
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• UK street artist Banksy unveils latest mural in London

  22-12-2025 18:40 via vanguardngr.com
  British street artist Banksy unveiled his latest work in central London on Monday amid speculation over an identical second work which has appeared elsewhere in the city.Read Also: Kogi govt, FRSC, Military, others battle Lokoja-Abuja gridlockThe black and white mural painted on the side of an old building in Bayswater shows two people, probably children, in winter hats and wellington boots lying down, looking up and pointing to the sky.Banksy, whose real identity has not been revealed, posted
  
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• Akwa Ibom community cuts costs of marriage and burial rites

  22-12-2025 18:37 via vanguardngr.com
  …Sanctions Against Violations to Take Effect From 2026By Egufe YafugborhiThe Ekid people of Akwa Ibom State have reduced excessive financial demands in traditional marriage and funeral rites to ease the burden on families and suitors.Implemented under the Ekid Peoples Union (EPU), the reforms aim to restore order, dignity, and sustainable development in Ekid land. In recent years, inflated marriage and funeral lists had made weddings unaffordable for many suitors and caused delays in bur
  
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