General news

• Wenger admits World Cup hydration breaks split opinion

  18-07-2026 22:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Arsene Wenger said Saturday he accepted that the hydration breaks used at this year’s World Cup were not universally popular and said FIFA will assess whether to implement them in the same way in the future.Wenger, FIFA’s head of global football development, told a briefing on the eve of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina: “Sometimes people didn’t like it and we have to analyse after the World Cup what the impact was.”For this World Cup, FIFA brought i
  
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• Reps panel invites Akume, Oyedele, Fagbemi, others over PFIPC

  20-07-2026 22:25 via vanguardngr.com
  
  An ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives has invited Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, to explain how the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) acquired office space within the federal secretariat.The committee, christened: Ad hoc Committee to Investigate the Circumstances Surrounding the Existence and Operations of PFIPC and its Inclusion in the Budget Framework, made the resolution in Abuja on Monday at a public hearing.It a
  
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• Yemen’s Houthis declare maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia

  20-07-2026 22:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia on Monday, stepping up the US-Iran war as the rebels threatened the top oil exporter’s ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.The Iran-backed group did not say how it planned to impose the embargo, whose declaration came as Iran said it was back to a “full-scale war” with the United States, and as Washington and Tehran battled to control the strait.Saudi Arabia and the Houthis traded fire last week for th
  
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• Gunmen ambush, kill two farmers in Plateau

  20-07-2026 21:54 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Golok NanmwaSuspected gunmen have ambushed and killed two farmers in Takkas community, Fier Ward of Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, in separate attacks that have heightened fears among residents.Sources told Vanguard that the victims were attacked while working on their farms on Sunday and Monday.The member representing Pankshin North Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dewan Gabriel, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard, said one victim was kille
  
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• Tinubu appoints Fayose as REA board chairman

  20-07-2026 21:44 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Johnbosco AgbakwuruPresident Bola Tinubu has appointed the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, as chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Board.The President also made 25 other appointments to 10 federal government agencies and commissions.The appointments were contained in a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.According to the statement, “All the appointments take immediate effect.”The statement read: “President Bola Ah
  
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• Xenophobia: S’Africans feeling impact of attacks on businesses, others – NICASA president

  20-07-2026 21:39 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Cynthia Alo & Kafayat KokumoThe National President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, NICASA, Mr. Frank Onyekwelu, has disclosed that South Africans are beginning to feel the economic impact of attacks on foreign-owned businesses, particularly those operated by Nigerians, as closures continue to affect local communities.This is even as the NICASA President said that Nigerians living in South Africa are still facing xenophobic attacks despite efforts by authorities and
  
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• US judge suspends Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros.

  20-07-2026 21:21 via vanguardngr.com
  
  A federal judge in California on Monday ordered Paramount Skydance and Warner Brothers Discovery to temporarily pause their merger while a case brought by multiple states challenging the deal moves forward.The companies are prohibited from closing their $110 billion deal for 14 days until another hearing is held on August 3 regarding a preliminary injunction, which would prevent Paramount and Warner Brothers from closing the transaction before a final decision is reached.The states raised &ldqu
  
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• 2027: Kwankwaso downplays Modu’s Sheriff’s remarks on Obi’s northern popularity

  20-07-2026 21:16 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed claims by former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, that northern voters would not support Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.Kwankwaso spoke during an interview on Channels Television on Monday while reacting to Sheriff’s recent remarks that the NDC presidential candidate lacked electoral appeal in the North.The former Kano State governor suggested that Sheriff made the
  
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• DSS to appeal life sentences on 2 Ansaru top terror commanders

  20-07-2026 21:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Department of State Services (DSS) will appeal Monday’s life sentences for two top commanders of the Ansaru Terror organisation by a Federal High Court, Abuja.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Emeka Nwite had, shortly after the two notorious terrorists pleaded guilty to the 32-count terrorism charge, sentenced them to life imprisonment.The judge gave the verdict after the convicts and their lawyer begged the court to temper justice with mercy.The convicts are Mahmu
  
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• “The pain is immense,” says Messi of World Cup defeat

  20-07-2026 21:03 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Lionel Messi said on Monday that after Argentina’s World Cup final loss “the pain is immense and it’s going to take a long time for this wound to heal.”“I’ll also hold on to all the good memories,” Messi wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself wearing his loser’s medal following the World champions’ extra-time loss to Spain. “Today it’s hard to appreciate what we achieved, but this squad reached two consecutive World Cup
  
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• FG denies rumours of Defence Minister Christopher Musa’s alleged resignation

  20-07-2026 20:58 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Kingsley OmonobiThe Federal Government has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media alleging that the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), plans to resign from office.In a statement issued on Monday, the Office of the Minister described the reports as “malicious” and “entirely fabricated,” urging the public to disregard them.The statement, titled “False Rumour Regarding the Honourable Minister of Defence,” was signed b
  
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• Trump dismisses New York mayor’s threat to arrest Netanyahu

  20-07-2026 20:51 via vanguardngr.com
  
  US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not face arrest at a UN summit in New York, after the city’s new mayor said he was investigating the move.Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted he was unsure if he had the power to order police to detain a foreign leader but said he was discussing the matter with his legal team ahead of the UN General Assembly in September.“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while
  
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• ICPC grills Gbajabiamila over PFIPC

  20-07-2026 20:25 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, ABUJA
  Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to answer questions about the alleged fake federal agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).His appearance at the commission followed its invitation after President Tinubu directed the ICPC to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the scandal surrounding th
  
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• I rejected N50m offer to campaign for Adeleke – VDM on fallout with Davido

  20-07-2026 20:18 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has opened up about his reported fallout with Nigerian music star Davido.In a viral video circulating online, VDM claimed their relationship deteriorated after he turned down an alleged N50 million offer to campaign for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is Davido’s uncle.His comments come amid growing speculation over why the pair are no longer seen together publicly.Speaking in Pidgin English, VDM recounted
  
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• Oriire rescue shows gains from security coordination, says coalition

  20-07-2026 19:55 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Luminous JannamikeThe successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire, Oyo State, points to improving coordination among Nigeria’s security agencies, the Coalition of Civil Rights Groups on Security Sector Reforms (CCRGSR) said on Monday.Addressing journalists in Abuja, the coalition said the operation, completed around July 10 after the victims were abducted in May, demonstrated how closer collaboration among the military, police and intelligence agencies was yielding b
  
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• PFIPC: CBN opens govt accounts only on OAGF authorisation – Director tells Reps probe panel

  20-07-2026 19:50 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Gift ChapiOdekina, AbujaA Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Hamisu Abdullahi, has told the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) without a valid legal framework that the apex bank only opens accounts for government agencies upon receiving formal approval from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).Abdullahi, who represented the CBN Governor before t
  
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• Osun ALGON suspends transport union activities over rising violence

  20-07-2026 19:43 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Shina Abubakar, OsogboThe Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, has suspended the activities of all transport unions across the state following reported clashes between rival groups that have raised concerns over the safety of lives and property.The association said the decision was necessary to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-blown crisis.Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday on behalf of the ALGON chairman, the Vice Chairman, Mr Lan
  
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• Mary Habila: 300 CSOs cancel protest over Umahi

  20-07-2026 19:38 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Luminous JannamikeABUJA — Gender for Social Justice and Good Governance, GFSJGG, and about 300 civil society organisations have cancelled their planned nationwide protest over the death of Miss Mary Habila after the coalition said its fact-finding exercise found no basis to hold the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, responsible for the incident.The planned demonstrations were called off after the coalition said fresh findings from its inquiry changed the picture that informed its
  
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• Habila’s Death: Ebonyi women group urges calm, supports autopsy to determine cause

  20-07-2026 19:36 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Jeff Agbodo, AbakalikiA women’s organisation in Ebonyi State, Ohanivo Women Association (OWA), has called for calm and restraint following the death of Mary Habila at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.The group also expressed sympathy with the family of the deceased, urging members of the public to avoid making unverified allegations and allow due process to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mrs F
  
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• Nigeria leads Africa’s telecom agenda ahead of ITU conference

  20-07-2026 19:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Progress GodfreyABUJA – Nigeria on Monday assumed the chairmanship of the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee (CPC), leading Africa’s drive for a common position ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha later this year.The chairmanship followed the election of the Director of Internal Audit at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mrs Stella Erabor, a
  
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• Top 10 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup

  20-07-2026 19:32 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Enitan AbdultawabWinning the FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, but only a handful of teenagers have experienced lifting the famous trophy.From Pelé’s iconic triumph as a 17-year-old in 1958 to Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal making history in 2026, these are the youngest players ever to become World Cup champions.1. Pelé (Brazil) – 17 years, 249 daysPelé remains the youngest player in history to win the FIFA World Cup. The
  
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• ECOWAS signs agreement to advance Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project

  20-07-2026 19:29 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Obas Esiedesa, AbujaThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the implementation of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), marking a major milestone towards the realisation of the multibillion-dollar energy project.The agreement was signed by Heads of State and Government at the 69th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and provides the legal and sovereign framework for the 6,900-kilometre pipeline.The
  
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• Ballon d’Or organisers release update on World Cup’s impact on 2026 award race

  20-07-2026 19:21 via vanguardngr.com
  
  With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now concluded, Ballon d’Or organisers have moved to dispel the long-held belief that winning football’s biggest international prize automatically guarantees the sport’s most prestigious individual honour.As debate intensifies over who could succeed Lionel Messi as Ballon d’Or winner, organisers examined the award’s history and concluded that while World Cup success boosts a player’s chances, it is far from a guarantee.According to
  
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• Nigerian army warns public against fake SSC 50/2027 recruitment advertisement

  20-07-2026 19:20 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Kingsley OmonobiThe Nigerian Army has raised the alarm over a fake recruitment advertisement circulating on social media and other online platforms, inviting applications for the Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC) Course 50/2027.The Army, in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, described the advertisement as fraudulent and warned members of the public to disregard it.“The Nigerian Army categorically states that this advertisement is fa
  
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• NNPC’s N7.13tn: What does Nigeria have to show for it, ADC asks

  20-07-2026 19:17 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Luminous JannamikeABUJA – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to account for the N7.13 trillion recorded as energy security expenditure in the company’s audited 2024 financial statements, saying Nigerians deserve to know what the country has to show for the spending.For the opposition party, the issue is not simply the size of the expenditure but whether trillions of naira in p
  
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• Two Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists bag life sentences after pleading guilty

  20-07-2026 19:12 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ikechukwu NnochiriABUJA— Two commanders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, Mahmud Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a) and Abubakar Abba (popularly called Mahmud Al-Nigeri or Isah Adam/Mallam Mamuda), were on Monday handed life sentences by a Federal High Court in Abuja.The duo were convicted after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge preferred against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).Trial Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced the convicts to life
  
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• Fake Agency Probe: OHCSF, CBN distance selves from PFIPC, reveal inactive accounts

  20-07-2026 19:09 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Gift ChapiOdekina, AbujaABUJA — The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have distanced themselves from the establishment and operations of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), as investigations by the House of Representatives continued on Monday.The institutions made the disclosures before the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged creation of the council without a valid lega
  
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• 10 iPhones with the best battery life

  20-07-2026 19:05 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Apple’s Pro Max and Plus models for iPhones consistently lead the pack in battery endurance due to their larger physical dimensions, larger battery capacities, and power-efficient displays.Here are the 10 iPhones with the best battery life, ranked by overall real-world endurance and battery capacity.1. iPhone 17 Pro Max
  Battery: 5,088 mAhThe first iPhone to break the 5,000 mAh threshold. Paired with the 3nm A19 Pro chip, it lasts well beyond a full day of heavy streaming, gaming, and navi
  
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• FCCPC resumes digital lending regulation as court vacates restraining order

  20-07-2026 19:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has resumed the implementation and enforcement of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 (DEON Regulations), following a judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which upheld the validity of the regulations.Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday dismissed the suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (WASPAN),
  
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• Nigeria’s N80trn debt figure exaggerated – FG

  20-07-2026 19:01 via vanguardngr.com
  
  .Says it has not borrowed anything near N80trillion being bandied .As Senators lament non-implementation of 2026 budget By Henry Umoru, ABUJATHE  Federal Government of Nigeria has declared that the Nation’s debt profile is exaggerated, as monies borrowed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within the last three years are nowhere near the N80 trillion being bandied by public commentators and erroneously reported by Journalists.Speaking in Abuja on Monday when he appeared befor
  
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