APC Appoints Dalori as Acting National Chairman

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori as its new Acting National Chairman. This development follows the resignation of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the National Chairman of the ruling party.

Ganduje stepped down on Friday, 27th June 2025 reportedly amid persuasions from the party stakeholders, particularly from the North Central region, who have consistently demanded that the chairmanship return to their zone.

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US Senator, Rep, Spouses shot dead at Home

According to sources, Ganduje’s resignation was largely influenced by his mishandling of the recent FCT Area Council primaries.

Ganduje, who took office in August 2023 after the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu, has since struggled to unify the party.

His exit is seen as a strategic move by the APC to regain internal stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the interim, the party plans to allow one of its current Deputy National chairmen to serve as acting chairman, pending election of a substantive leader at the party’s national convention billed for December.

US Senator, Rep, Spouses shot dead at Homes

Rostrum

Minnesota Senator, John Hoffman and State Representative, Melissa Hortman, alongside their spouses, have been reportedly shot dead by men posing as police officers.

The gunmen showed up at their respective homes in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, according to law enforcement officials and local media.

The initial Brooklyn Park Shooting occurred on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the residence of Senator Hoffman, a Democrat who has been a member of the Minnesota Senate since 2013.

Yvette, Hoffman’s wife, was shot thrice, while Hoffman was shot at least twice, according to reports.

The second shooting occurred a few miles South at the residence of State Representative, Hortman, who has been a member of the House since 2005. It happened close to the Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park.

In the Minnesota House, she serves as the Democratic leader as well. She was shot along with her husband.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that a U.S senator was beaten, handcuffed by the FBI at press conference on immigration raids.

US removes 270000 Migrants in One Year

Official information regarding the victims’ conditions in the Brooklyn Park Shooting is still unavailable.

Brooklyn Park Police stated that they were searching for a dangerous and armed suspect in several targeted shootings.

“Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement,” police said.

Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota stated that he was being updated on the incidents.

Local law officers and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety were reportedly present at the scene.

“We will share more information soon,” he said on X.

Legendary Musician, Mike Ejeagha Passes On @95

Veteran Highlife musician and cultural icon, Mike Ejeagha, who gained wide recognition over his iconic hit “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” has died at the age of 95.

Ejeagha passed on on Friday night at approximately 8:00 p.m. at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu, after a prolonged battle with illness, his eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, confirmed.

Pope Francis Passes on @88

Known for weaving Igbo proverbs and storytelling into music, Ejeagha was a prominent figure on Nigerian airwaves throughout the 1980s and beyond.

His 1983 classic, “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” experienced a resurgence in 2024 when a comedian, Chukwuebuka Amuzi, known as Brain Jotter, featured the song in a viral dance challenge that captivated audiences across social media platforms.

AfDB elects New President, Sidi Tah

The Mauritania's former Economy minister, Sidi Ould Tah on Thursday,29th May 2025 clinched victory with 76.18 percent of votes in the third round of an election in Abidjan, Ivory Coast for the post of president of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB).

His closest challenger, Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo, was second on 20.26 percent.

Ould Tah succeeds Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina, who has been in charge of the AfDB since 2015, to become Africa's next "super banker". He would be reportedly inaugurated in September, 2025.

The latest contest took three rounds of voting to secure the requisite majority of votes from all member countries and a majority of votes from African nations.

The AfDB is one of the world's largest multilateral development banks and is funded by member subscriptions, loans raised on global markets as well as repayments and income from loans.

Ould Tah faces a disrupted international economic environment, probably due to the US President Donald Trump's tariff announcements.

Beyond tariffs, the AfDB is also facing the threat of losing 500 million dollars in US funding for its projects to support low income countries on the continent.

In the lead-up to the election, all the candidates in the race promised to make the AfDB even more effective to transform Africa, continuing Adesina's five priorities to light up, feed, industrialise, integrate and improve quality of life.

"I am proud of the legacy we are leaving behind for... my successor, for the bank and for Africa," the outgoing president, Adesina said in a speech on Tuesday, two days earlier.

"We have built a world-class financial institution that will continue to advance Africa's position within a rapidly changing global development and geopolitical environment," he added.

Adesina said 565 million people had benefited from AfDB projects during his decade in charge.

Major projects include support for the construction of the Gabal El Asfar wastewater treatment plant in Egypt – the largest in Africa.

"The bank also helped finance a bridge connecting Senegal and the Gambia, expanded the port of Lome in Togo and supported sanitation projects in Lesotho and access to electricity in Kenya," Adesina boasted.

"From 2015 to this year, the bank's capital more than tripled from $93 billion to $318 billion." he added.

Tinubu seeks Senate Approval for $21.5bn Loan, others

The Nigeria's President, Bola Tinubu, has sought the approval of the Senate for the 2025-2026 external borrowing plan of $21.5 billion.

Tinubu also sought the approval of the Senate for a loan request of 15 billion Japanese Yen and 51 million Euros grant.

Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read at plenary in Abuja on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

The president stated: ”Following the removal of the first fuel subsidy and its impact on the national economy, approval is sought for the external building plan.

“I want to emphasise that the projects and programmes included in the plan were selected based on technical and economic evaluations and the anticipated contributions to the socioeconomic development of the country.”

Tinubu noted that the initiatives were aimed at generating employment, promote skill acquisition, foster entrepreneurship, reduce poverty and enhance food security.

AfDB elects New President, Sidi Tah

He strongly opined that the move would improve the livelihoods of Nigerians.

Tinubu added that majority of the projects and programmes would be implemented across the country.

He stated: “These funds will primarily be directed towards critical infrastructure projects including sectors in power, railways healthcare among others.

“Given the urgent nature of business and the importance of stabilising the economy, it is therefore crucial to seek approval of the distinguished senate for the 2025-2026 external borrowing plan.

“This will enable the government to fulfill its obligations to the Nigerian people through timely and effective project implementation.”

Akpabio thereafter forwarded the request to Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further legislative inputs and to revert to plenary within two weeks.

Uzodinma Sacks Imo Justice Commissioner, Akaolisa

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has sacked the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Cyprian Akaolisa.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, on Monday, May 26, 2025.

However, Emelumba did not disclose any reason behind Akaolisa’s removal.

Akaolisa was directed to hand over all government property under his care to the Imo State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.

The sacked commissioner denied speculations that the removal was sequel to the controversies that followed the appointment of a Chief Judge for the State.

“Honestly, I don’t want to speculate. All I know is that His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma, in his wisdom appoints his commissioners and removes them; when it is auspicious, he will give reasons." Akaolisa stated. “But this is part of a minor cabinet reshuffling.” He opined.

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Wike spits Fire in PDP as Crisis deepens

The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has announced that he has pulled out of every peace agreement he assented to in order to quell the current crisis crippling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement released on Sunday, 25th May 2025, Wike revealed that he was no longer interested in seeking Peace and would fight until Justice is served.

It could be recalled that that Wike and his allies in the party have been in a running battle with Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and Peter Mbah of Enugu State over control of the Party which has led to a bitter crisis that has been going on for months.

Below is the full statement from the minister.

“Since after the 2023 General election, the PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another, owing fundamentally to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders. To stem this ugly trend, efforts have been made to arrest this pernicious virus of dishonesty and treachery and enthrone fidelity to agreements with a view to stabilizing the party and moving it forward.”

“To this end, a meeting of the G5 was held in Lagos. In that meeting, I made it clear to the Governor of Oyo State, HE. Seyi Makinde, that he was the architect of our problems, pointing out to him that non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party, and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly. At the end of the meeting, we resolved to bury the hatchet and make progress.”

“As a follow-up to the aforementioned meeting, there was an expanded meeting in Abuja involving HE. Seyi Makinde, HE. Umaru Fintri, HE. Bala Mohammed, HE, Bukola Saraki, and I in Saraki’s guest house. In that meeting, I made it clear that I had no personal problems with HE. Bala Mohammed, except that he hides under the facade of Chairman of PDP Governors Forum to serially renege on agreements.”

“Tensions rose mightily in the meeting and it took all concerned to calm frayed nerves. At the end of the meeting, we came to some resolutions, including:

a. That Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the National Secretary of the PDP in tandem with the Supreme Court judgement.

b. All legal matters relating to Rivers State must be withdrawn by the National Legal Adviser.

c. The suit on the State of emergency be withdrawn forthwith.

d. Nobody should deviate from the agreements so reached.

“In the light of the foregoing, they pleaded with me to attend the stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi Government Lodge, regardless of my many engagements. I attended the meeting and clearly reiterated my earlier concerns, and to this end and in order to resolve all other lingering and pending issues, a committee was formed, headed by HE. Bukola Saraki.”

“It is disheartening to note that even before the Bukola Saraki Reconciliation Committee began its work, the gentleman’s agreement we reached at Saraki’s Guest House was already being crudely violated. To my chagrin, Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mba of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as Secretary, they would pull out of the PDP. I have since granted an interview to the effect that, that resolution of the South-East leaders can not hold.”

“Again, Seyi Makinde organized some people in the National Secretariat to insist that the Deputy National Secretary should act as National Secretary, in violation of the agreement earlier reached.

"To attempt to give credence to this farce, a letter was written by the Deputy National Secretary, calling for a meeting of the NEC of the party. Furthermore, the letter confirming the candidacy of the Governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming Governorship elections in Anambra State, duly signed by the National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu and the acting National Chairman, was portrayed as rejected by the party through a rebuttal letter signed by the National Publicity Secretary, acting on the orders of Seyi Makinde and Peter Mba.”

“All these actions are in complete violation of the agreements reached and would not do the party any good whatsoever. On the 24th of May 2025, in Jos, for instance, a well publicized and properly attended zonal elective congress of the PDP was aborted because the letter inviting INEC to the congress was signed by the Deputy National Secretary of the party. INEC refused to attend because the proper signatory recognized by law, that is Senator Samuel Anyanwu was not a signatory to the invitation notice. This is undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying, to say the least.”

“I have painstakingly put out all these facts so that PDP members and the general public would know the truth. I have been in this party since 1998 and have worked tirelessly for the survival of this party with all my strength and it is on record that none of these persons have done anything close to what I have done to sustain this party. What is more painful is that I contributed substantially to most of these governors winning their elections, yet I have not made any personal demands on any of them and I would never do so.”

“Most importantly, I had thought that we could keep the trust amongst us, but since it is now obvious that they would continue to play games to the detriment of the party, as is the case in the current debacle in the North-Central zonal elections, I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained.”

FN Blog

Man sets Wife, Children Ablaze in Abia

A man identified as Udochi Amala, has set his wife and their three children ablaze in Onicha Ngwa, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

The 40-year-old man was said to have set his wife, and their three children on fire over alleged infidelity by his wife.

It was learnt that Amala attempted to flee after the incident but was apprehended.

One of his daughters reportedly passed on having sustained severe burns.

The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, May 20.

“The police are aware. Investigation is ongoing,” the police spokesperson notified.

Pope Leo to be Installed May 18

Pope Leo XIV will be formally installed as the Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, May 18, 2025 when he is expected to hold his inaugural public Mass at St. Peter's Square.

The first U.S-born pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, would also reportedly preside over his first general audience on May 21.

While Leo held the first Mass of his papacy in the Sistine Chapel on Friday morning, being May 9, 2025, the day after his election, that service was for the cardinals of the Catholic Church and was not open to the public.

During the papal inauguration, a Mass is celebrated before political and religious leaders from around the world.

However, while world leaders are typically invited to attend the Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate, most nations may decide to send official delegations rather than heads of State.

FN Blog

"There were errors": JAMB finally admits

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has eventually admitted to errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Registrar of the Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, 14th May 2025.

It could be recalled that most parents and entities had threatened to sue the examination body, saying their wards' performances were manipulated. This came after reports of high level of poor results in the recently concluded UTME.

“What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” Oloyede admitted.

According to him, “we set all machineries in order, regardless, there were still errors.”

This follows JAMB announcement that it had received an unusually high number of complaints regarding discrepancies in candidates’ scores.

The JAMB boss added that 379,997 candidates in the five states of the South East and Lagos would be rescheduled for another UTME.

The boss, who took responsibility of what he described as "sabotage", stated that the affected candidates would start receiving messages from JAMB starting from Thursday, 15th May 2025.

FN Blog

New Pope emerges on 2nd Day of Conclave

Cardinal Rupert Prevost has graciously emerged as the new Pope of the universal Roman Catholic Church.

The new pope, who is the 267th Pontiff in the history of the Church, has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

The 69-year-old is the first American to emerge the Pope. He hails from the U.S.A. He had been the cardinal in charge of appointment of bishops in Vatican, and was serving in Peru as a Bishop prior to his emergence.

Earlier, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday evening, signalling that the 133 Roman Catholic cardinals gathered inside the Vatican had elected a new pope. Earlier, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on the evening of Thursday, May 8, 2025, signalling that the 133 Roman Catholic cardinals gathered inside the Vatican had elected a new pope.

The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers, priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted “Viva il papa!” after the white smoke wafted into the late afternoon sky at 6:07 p.m. Waving flags from around the world.

Tens of thousands of people reportedly waited to learn who had won.

The smoke signal means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

The name of the new Pope was announced when a top cardinal utters the words “Habemus Papam!” — Latin for “We have a pope!” — from the loggia of the basilica. The cardinal then read the winner’s birth name in Latin and revealed the name he has chosen to be called.

The new pope is expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing from the same loggia.

FN Blog

Black Smoke erupts at Vatican on Ist Day of Conclave

Cardinals are currently meeting in a secret and sacred Papal Conclave.

Today being May 8, 2025 marks the second day as they seek a new pontiff to succeed Pope Francis.

The first two votes of the first day, May 7, 2025, failed to find a winner, sending billowing black smoke through the chapel chimney, signifying no success recorded thus far.

The 133 cardinals who are eligible to choose the next pontiff are trying again on Thursday, May 8, 2025, to elect a successor to Francis to guide the 1.4 billion strong Roman Catholic church at time of human upheaval.

The conclave was called after Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88.

There was a delay between his death and the conclave to allow time for a funeral, burial and a period of mourning.

It was also necessary to give cardinals time to arrive in Rome from all corners of the Earth, and to let them get acquainted before entering the conclave, an ancient ritual steeped in mystery and ritual.

The cardinals are cut off from the world while at the Vatican, between residences and the Sistine Chapel, where they vote in secret – and in silence.

The process – fictionalised in the 2024 political thriller “Conclave” – is said to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and is designed to be both contemplative and free from outside interference.

Electors must be under 80 years old, and are more geographically diverse than ever. They represent Catholicism’s growing presence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as its traditional power base in Europe.

The longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years, but it’s reasonable to assume that this conclave will be much, much shorter.

Cardinals this week said they expect a short conclave, though it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting, AFP reported.

For most of the past century, it has taken between three and eight ballots to find a pope.

John Paul I – the pope who reigned for 33 days – was elected on the third ballot in 1978. His successor, St. John Paul II, was elected on the eight. Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.

There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile”, or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope.

FN Blog

The IMF's Projection and Nigeria's Economy

Fred Nwaozor

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Nigeria’s economic growth will rise by 3.0 per cent in 2025. The statement has triggered mixed reactions from a cross-section of well-meaning Nigerians.

This was revealed alongside other countries, such as Argentina, China, Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, among others. The projection was contained in its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) update for April 2025, released on Tuesday, April 22.

It however equally disclosed a projection of global economic reduction by 2.8 per cent. According to the IMF, the rapid escalation of trade tensions and exceptionally high levels of policy uncertainty are expected to significantly impact global economic activity.

It's noteworthy that the IMF has three critical missions in accordance with its mandate: furthering international monetary cooperation, encouraging the expansion of trade and economic growth, and discouraging policies that would harm prosperity.

To fulfill these missions, the IMF member countries work collaboratively with each other and with other international bodies. This has hitherto been a standard mode of operation among the membership of the prestigious global monetary body.

Any right thinking and discerning Nigerian, either home or abroad, is expected to thoroughly x-ray such a report that might seem confusing in the eyes of an average citizen of the country. In view of this, we mustn't shy away from delving deeply into the highly sensitive matter.

One may begin to wonder how the country's economy is projected to grow whereas over 60 per cent of the citizenry are presently making frantic efforts to survive, let alone making a meaningful life among themselves.

The economy of any country in the world is primarily rated by its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which measures the total market value of all final goods and services produced within the country. Another pertinent factor that determines a nation's economic performance is her Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.

While the GDP reflects the total value of goods and services manufactured within the country's borders, the GNI per Capita metric takes into account the income earned by its residents, both domestically and abroad, and divided by the total population.

How could the Nigeria's GDP be expected to rise when virtually every manufacturer and service provider in the country is crying woefully on a daily basis over the uncalled environment they are currently being faced with? High cost of energy and bloated taxation have endangered the activities of these firms, thereby affecting the cost price of commodities and services.

Since the cost price, which is occasioned by the production cost, directly affects the selling price, it drastically reduces the purchasing power of the final consumers whom are invariably found in helpless condition as they are seen lamenting in various markets. This is the current obvious state of Nigeria's producers and consumers.

The GNI per Capita, on the other hand, is quite unbearable to assert the least. This metric, which signifies the income earned by the residents of the country taking into cognizance its population, has become a thing of intense worry for any rational being in Nigeria.

While the income of the MSMEs' owners is apparently a worrisome situation owing to the huge reduction in quantity demand from the consumers, the salary/wage earners have been left to groan since their monthly take-away could barely afford their basic needs. The workers are reportedly lamenting that the recently approved national minimum wage of 70,000 naira is yet to be fully implemented by the government.

An average worker in the country is no longer concerned about savings as part of their monthly obligation, rather, they are only making frantic efforts to ensure the salaries are enough to cater for their families' feeding and other basic needs. In other words, they are struggling for survival as I earlier stated.

The other day, I read a report from a government ally that the states in Nigeria now receive about three times of what used to be their allocations from the federal government. According to the reporter, the so-called improvement was as a result of the excess savings emanating from the fuel subsidy removal.

The informant had notified Nigerians, albeit ignorantly, that petrol subsidy was removed, so the president and the governors could make more money, without comprehending that such a financial influx ought to primarily be channelled into capital projects as well as debt servicing.

The Nigeria's 2025 budget is anchored on a benchmark oil price of 75 USD per barrel. As of 22nd April, the Brent crude oil price was sold at 67.22 USD, which is about 11 per cent lower than the pegged amount. This unequivocally implies that more sacrifice is required by the already-weary citizens, towards financing the budget.

For Nigeria to anticipate a robust economy within the 2025 fiscal year, inflation must be critically tackled. It's not anymore news that astronomical inflation in our various markets has endangered the citizens' purchasing power, thereby crippling households' economies.

For this to be actualized, two factors mustn't be taken for granted: energy cost and taxation. These two tools have continually posed severe danger to goods and services within the shores of the country, yet apparently nothing is being done to alleviate the quagmire.

The high cost of energy sources, such as fuel basically, will continue to cripple prices of goods in the market, as it's noted that energy billing directly affects trade and investment anywhere across the globe.

Taxation, on its part, which is equally on the high side in the present days' Nigeria, remains one of the major reasons the service providers, like the telecom and TV satellite firms, have chosen to "kill" Nigerians over the cost of services being rendered to them. Even the pitiable workers' salaries are reportedly faced by outrageous taxes.

Tax evasion is also a disturbing scenario that needs to be addressed. This illicit act, in overall, typically involves misrepresentation or concealment of income, falsification of financial records, or exaggeration of deductions to lower taxable income. This financial menace must be critically tackled by ensuring the evaders are fished out and meant to face the wrath of the extant laws.

More so, the Nigeria's Foreign Exchange (FX) market is still bleeding. As at Friday, 25th April 2025, the Naira traded officially at #1599.55 to the US dollar, showcasing a seeming endless struggling physiognomy for the country's economy. The continued floating of the Nigerian currency is seriously telling on her international trade system.

These, and many more, are the reasons the economic authorities in the country, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Finance Ministry, must decisively work on the country's monetary and financial policies towards experiencing a paradigm shift.

As the concerned bodies carry out the suggested innovations, the government must learn to invest mainly on capital projects, such as physical infrastructure, education and healthcare, as well as endeavour to service the country's scary debts headlong. Think about it.

FN Blog

What If Okpaleke Emerges The Next Pope?

Fred Nwaozor

The last time I checked, the global community had once again been faced with yet another moment of electing a new Roman Catholic Pontiff, as Pope Francis peacefully takes a bow. While the world, in its entirety, mourns the peaceful and glorious exit of Pope Francis, who was of Argentina extraction, many are equally in sober mood as regards who becomes his successor. This signifies that the Catholic faithful across the globe are presently faced with mixed feelings.

It's noteworthy that a Nigerian, in the person of Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke, is the only cleric among the four living cardinals of Nigeria extraction, eligible to cast a vote in the forthcoming Papal Conclave in Rome targeted to elect a new Pope for the universal Roman Catholic Church. This means, he can also be elected, or has the chances of emerging the next pontiff.

Under the current canon law, only cardinals under the age of 80 are permitted to vote in a papal election, hence making Cardinal Okpaleke - who is currently 62 years old - qualified to participate in the yet epochal ritual. As a matter of fact, he is Nigeria's sole elector among the country's cardinals.

Let's delve into the memory lane. In 1987, prior to the emergence of Pope JohnPaul II, Cardinal Dominic Ignatius Ekandem (born 1917), now of the blessed memory, was the only cardinal elector of Nigeria extraction. He was then 70 years old.

Subsequently, before the appointment of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, Cardinals Francis Arinze (born 1932) and Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (born 1936) were both eligible Nigerian cardinal electors. They were 73 and 69 years old, respectively.

Then, in 2013, towards the election of Pope Francis, Cardinals Anthony Olubunmi Okogie and John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan (born 1944) were both qualified cardinal electors among the then three living cardinals of Nigerian extraction. They were respectively 77 and 69-year-old clerics.

Now, in 2025, Cardinal Okpaleke (born 1963), who precisely hails from Amesi, Aguata LGA in Anambra State, is among the 135 'Princes of the Church' (cardinal electors) worldwide who are set to cast their votes in the awaited conclave, which takes place on May 7, 2025 in Vatican city, Rome.

He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis on August 27, 2022, and holds the title of Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Martiri dell'Uganda a Poggio Ameno, and currently serves as the Bishop of Ekwulobia in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Many of us may have forgotten about the history of Cardinal Okpaleke in respect of his ongoing successful missionary journey. Let's digress a bit.

Cardinal Peter Okpaleke was appointed as the Bishop of the Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara in Mbaise on December 7, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI. Amidst controversies that surrounded his appointment, he was eventually consecrated as a bishop under the reign of Pope Francis on May 21, 2013 amid tight security, at the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Ulakwo in Owerri North LGA, which is situated outside the Ahiara Diocese, with Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna serving as the principal consecrator. It was reportedly first in history, seeing a prospective bishop being consecrated at a locality situated outside the diocese he was meant to oversee.

However, due to the opposition that ensued ab initio from some members of the clergy and laity in the Ahiara Diocese, Bishop Okpaleke was afterwards unable to take canonical possession of the diocese. This led to his resignation, which was later accepted by Pope Francis on February 19, 2018.

Subsequently, on March 5, 2020, Pope Francis established the Diocese of Ekwulobia and appointed Bishop Okpaleke as its first bishop. He was installed in this position on April 29, 2020, prior to his creation (appointment) as a cardinal in 2022.

The intriguing politics and melodrama that played out in Ahiara Diocese during the period in review isn't something to be forgotten in a hurry, even if one is suffering from amnesia.

The Papacy under the watch of Pope Benedict XVI had upon the demise of Bishop Victor Chikwe, the pioneer bishop of Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral, approved Rev. Okpalaeke to serve as the bishop of the diocese. But his appointment was outrightly rejected by virtually every Catholic faithful in the Ahiara Diocese, saying the priest lacked the needed qualities to super-head the diocese.

One of their reasons was that Rev. Okpalaeke does not hail from the 'Mbaise nation'. According to them, it was a grievous blunder for the Pope not to find anyone among over 700 Catholic priests of Mbaise origin worthy to serve as the bishop of the Ahiara Diocese. They equally lamented that the cleric could not speak a dialect relevant to the members of the diocese, hence should not be consecrated to lead them.

It was mind-boggling and indeed ridiculous to realize that the religious extremism, which could best be described as amusing and irrational, wasn’t only ignited and fueled by the laity council in the diocese but rather has the full support of most of the Catholic priests from the area who were expected to be more informed regarding the Church norms and doctrines. The rest is history, please.

The Princes of the Church, as the cardinal electors are fondly called, who are 135 in number are now scheduled to meet next week Wednesday, being 7th May, 2025, at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican towards electing a new pontiff to lead the Holy See. This is a very critical and sensitive period for the Catholic faithful across the world, thus signifying a deep sober moment.

We are therefore expected to watch and pray while anxiously awaiting the outcome of the conclave. As we observe this, we ought to bear in mind that a black man, particularly Nigerian, has once again been faced with the chances of emerging as the next leader of the Catholic congregation worldwide. In all, discerning mindsets only seek the will of the Supreme being to intervene.

In view of the above, Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke, who has hitherto appeared to be a God's chosen one, may once again be chosen from above to occupy the highest and greatest position in his priesthood career. Think about it.

Nwaozor, a veteran analyst & activist, can be reached via frednwaozor@gmail.com

T.D. Jakes to step down as Potter's House Head Pastor

The renowned American pastor and leader of Potter's House Church, Bishop T.D. Jakes has announced he would be stepping down and handing leadership of the non-denominational Christian church to his daughter and her husband.

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, during church service, Jakes, who is currently 67 years old, announced that his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and son-in-law, Touré Roberts, would take over the church, which he founded in 1996.

He made the announcement during an emotional sermon, where he asked the congregation to welcome their new pastors with open arms.

"This is legacy," Jakes said. "Not because they are kin, but because they are the kind. They have immersed themselves into the DNA of this church for years."

The pastor said that while he is stepping down from his current role, he wants to continue doing work with the community.

However, Jakes disclosed afterwards, on his social media handle, that he would remain part of the Church’s Board of Directors after handing over to his daughter and her spouse, which is billed to officially take place in July, 2025.

"I'm grateful, I'm honoured," Jakes daughter said as she was called on to the stage. "As your daughter, I'm so happy you're going to get some rest."

The change comes after Jakes suffered from a heart attack on stage in November, 2024.

T.D. Jakes and wife

In a video posted online, Jakes was seen pausing during his hour-long sermon, before shaking suddenly as other church members gathered around him. He was then rushed to an intensive care unit.

A week after the "slight health incident," he spoke to his congregation remotely and told them that they were "looking at a miracle."

Jakes has been in the ministry for 47 years, and has reportedly advised many high-profile individuals, including the last three presidents. He is also a best-selling author and award-winning filmmaker.

He has been happily married with his wife, Serita Jakes, for over 40 years. The couple is blessed with five children.

The bishop has made headlines having being a longtime spiritual mentor to Sean "Diddy" Combs, the record executive who was indicted for sex trafficking and other federal charges.

Sarah Jakes Roberts and spouse

Her daughter, the incoming Head pastor, Sarah Jakes Roberts, is a New York Times best-selling author and CEO of Women Evolve, where she hosts a conference each year that focuses on women's empowerment through faith and draws thousands of people across the globe. The event this year will be held in Atlanta in July and is already sold out.

She and her husband, Touré Roberts, are both co-pastors at ONE: a Potter's House Church in Los Angeles and Potter's House of Denver.

Roberts is also a bestselling author, entrepreneur, investor, producer, humanitarian, and podcast host.

The couple has been married since November 2014, which marks their second marriage. They both reportedly have previous failed marriages.

Together, the two have five children from their previous marriages and a sixth child together.

FN Blog

Cardinals to convene May 7 for Papal Conclave

Catholic cardinals will convene on May 7, 2025 to begin voting for a new pope, the Vatican made the announcement on Monday, April 28, 2025, a week after the demise of Pope Francis.

The “Princes of the Church” under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new spiritual leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The date was decided during a meeting of cardinals of all ages early on Monday, two days after the funeral of Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday April 21, 2025 at the age of 88.

The Church’s 252 cardinals were summoned back to Rome following the Argentine’s death, although only 135 are eligible to vote in the papal conclave.

The cardinals hail from all corners of the globe, and many of them are unfamiliar with one another.

However, they have already held four meetings last week, known as “general congregations”, where they began to acquaint themselves better.

The “Princes of the Church” under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new spiritual leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The date was decided during a meeting of cardinals of all ages early on Monday, two days after the funeral of Francis, who passed away on 21 April at the age of 88. The Church’s 252 cardinals were summoned to Rome following the Argentine’s death, although only 135 are eligible to vote in the conclave.

The cardinals hail from all corners of the globe, and many of them are unfamiliar with one another.

However, they have already held four meetings last week, known as “general congregations”, where they began to acquaint themselves better.

Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, 83, a former head of the Italian bishops’ conference, described the atmosphere as “beautiful and fraternal”.

“Of course, there may be some difficulties because the voters have never been so numerous, and not everyone knows each other,” he told Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper. On Monday, the Vatican closed the Sistine Chapel, where voting will take place under Michelangelo’s 16th-century ceiling frescoes, to commence preparations.

So far, there are few indications as to whom the cardinals might choose.

“I believe that if Francis has been the pope of surprises, this conclave will be too, as it is not at all predictable,” Spanish Cardinal Jose Cobo said in in an interview on Sunday.

Francis was laid to rest on Saturday with a funeral and burial ceremony that drew 400,000 people to St Peter’s Square and beyond, including royalty, world leaders, and ordinary pilgrims.

On Sunday, approximately 70,000 mourners filed past his marble tomb in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome, after the “pope of the poor” opted to be buried outside the Vatican’s walls.

Amid conflicts and diplomatic crises around the world, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as secretary of state — the pope’s second-in-command — under Pope Francis, is considered by many to be the favourite to succeed him.

British bookmakers William Hill have placed him slightly ahead of Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, the Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Manila, followed by Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson.

Next in their odds are Matteo Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna; Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah; and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

While Pope Francis’s efforts to create a more compassionate Church earned him widespread affection and respect, some of his reforms angered the Church’s conservative wing, particularly in the United States and Africa. Roberto Regoli, a professor of Church history and culture at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, told the press that the cardinals would be seeking “someone who knows how to forge greater unity”.

“We are in a period in which Catholicism is experiencing various polarisations, so I don’t imagine it will be a very, very quick conclave,” he said.

Bassetti, who is too old to participate, expressed his belief that it “will not be long”.

Approximately 80 per cent of the cardinal electors were appointed by Pope Francis — though this does not guarantee they will select a successor in his likeness.

Most are relatively young, and for many, this will be their first conclave. The vote is highly secretive and adheres to strict rules and ceremonial procedures. The process could take several days or potentially longer.

There are four votes per day — two in the morning and two in the afternoon — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority.

Fewer than half of those eligible to vote are European.

“The future pope must have a universal heart, love all the continents. We must not look at colour, at origin, but at what is proposed,” Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga from the Central African Republic told the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

“We need a courageous leader, a bold one, capable of speaking forcefully, of holding the helm of the Church steady even in storms… offering stability in an era of great uncertainty.”

Patrizia Spotti, a 68-year-old Italian visiting Rome for the 2026 Jubilee holy year, told AFP on Monday that she hoped the new pontiff “will be a pope like Francis”.

It is a challenging time for Catholicism, she said.

“Churches are empty. And the Church itself has made mistakes, all the scandals with the children,” she said, referring to the widespread revelations of clerical sexual abuse.

FN Blog

JAMB warns Against Misinformation, pledges Financial Reward for Proof

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned the public over posting of misleading and false information.

This is coming after receiving myriad of statements on the social media where some canditates or parents claimed they (or their wards) were posted to outside the exam towns they chose during registration.

In the Board’s public memo released on April 26, 2025, signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, it further pledges financial reward to anyone who presents a proof of such claim.

Though a certain amount was not mentioned, it described the proposed award as 'handsome'.

The notice is as given below:

"JAMB WARNS AGAINST MISINFORMATION: OFFERS FINANCIAL REWARD FOR PROOF OF POSTING OUTSIDE CHOSEN EXAM TOWN

It is our firm belief that some parents are continually being deceived, misled and duped by their own wards and some secondary school proprietors who continue to propagate the falsehood that JAMB assigns candidates to examination centres outside their chosen examination towns.

Let it be unequivocally clear: at the time of registration, candidates have the right to select their preferred examination town. JAMB subsequently assigns them to a centre within that chosen town. The baseless assertion that candidates are placed in towns different from their selections is erroneous, malicious and aimed solely at tarnishing the Board’s reputation. It never happens.

JAMB acknowledges the importance of convenience for candidates, ensuring they sit for their examinations in locations of their choice among available CBT centres. Every candidate has the prerogative to choose their examination town, while JAMB only assigns the candidate within the chosen town.

The Board therefore challenges this false but popular narrative by offering a handsome financial reward to any one person who can provide authentic proof of just one candidate who is posted outside the chosen town of the candidate.

For transparency and not “being a judge in one’s case.” Such proof should within the next 96 hours be sent to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) WhatsApp Number; 08056003030 so that the umpire can ensure the reward is delivered or the Board is once and for all exonerated from the recurring campaign of calumny.

Similarly, anyone who finds no fault in airlines requesting air-travellers to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the departure time should find no fault in encouraging candidates to arrive at the CBT centres, 90 minutes before commencement of examination for preliminary verification. Many parents who expect candidates to spend not more than 2 hours for the 2 hours examination are apparently oblivious of the required preliminary processes.

The public is encouraged to grant public agencies the benefit of the doubt and trust that they exist to serve public interest in the best possible manner. JAMB as a government agency is committed to public good at all times. A trial will convince any.

On a lighter note, another dimension of gullibility was exhibited by a female UTME candidate who refused to attempt any question when she sat for the examination this morning because she was complying with the instruction of her grandfather to do nothing at the examination but wait for miraculous intervention. Of course such miracles do not happen with JAMB.

Candidates are advised against superstitious and baseless dream of reaping where they did not sow."

FN Blog

Pope Francis laid to Rest at St. Mary Major Basilica

Pope Francis was laid to rest at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on Saturday, April 26, 2025, after a funeral Mass at the Vatican attended by hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders, including United States President, Donald Trump.

Francis, who died on Easter Monday, aged 88, was remembered as a “pope among the people” who sought to “build bridges, not walls” in a funeral homily at St. Peter’s Square.

An estimated 400,000 people occupied the square and lined the streets of Rome to say goodbye to the Argentinian pontiff, a champion of the poor who had led the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics since 2013.

It's noteworthy that President Trump held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart on the sidelines of the funeral, which Volodymyr Zelensky described as positive, with “potential to become historic”.

The papal funeral marks the first of nine days of mourning for Catholics across the world.

Another Mass of mourning will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, April 27. That will be led by Italian Cardinal, Pietro Parolin, who is reportedly viewed as a leading papal contender.

In coming days, the Vatican will announce the date for the commencement of the Conclave, in which Pope Francis’ successor would be elected.

FN Blog

Brazil jails ex-president for Corruption

The erstwhile President of Brazil, Fernando Collor de Mello, has been sentenced to nine-year imprisonment for corruption and money laundering on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Collor de Mello, Brazil’s first democratically elected president after a decades-long dictatorship, resigned in 1992 after Congress launched impeachment proceedings against him for allegedly taking bribes.

He was arrested years later. His arrest was informed by the alleged bribes taken two decades later while he was serving as a senator, which was part of the sprawling “Car Wash” corruption scandal.

The 75-year-old was detained in Maceio city in northeastern Alagoas state, where he served as a senator and governor, after his exit as president.

In 2023, Collor de Mello was found guilty of having received 20 million reais (3.5 million dollars) in bribes while a senator between 2010 and 2014 to “irregularly facilitate contracts” between a construction company and a former subsidiary of Brazil’s state oil company Petrobras.

On Thursday, 24th April, 2025, the country's Supreme Court justice, Alexandre de Moraes rejected Collor de Mello’s last-gasp efforts to have his arrest order annulled.

Moraes ordered he be incarcerated in an individual cell in a “special wing” of Baldomero Cavalcanti de Oliveira prison in Maceio.

His lawyers told local media that the arrest came as he was about to travel to the capital Brasilia to turn himself in.

His lawyers said they would seek permission for him to serve his sentence under house arrest.

It's noteworthy that Collor de Mello is not Brazil’s first president to fall foul of the law.

Four of the seven people who have led the country since the 1964-1985 military dictatorship had either been convicted, jailed or impeached.

In the latest case, far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to stand trial over an alleged coup plot after losing the 2022 election.

While recovering in hospital this week from intestinal surgery, a court official handed the 70-year-old a summons giving him five days to submit his initial defence.

FN Blog

WhatsApp to stop Working on 3 iPhone models, May 5

The Social Media giant, Meta, has announced that, from May 5, 2025, some iPhone models will stop making use of their messaging platform, WhatsApp.

According to the announcement, anyone still using three particular Apple devices would cease to send or receive messages on the said app.

The affected devices are: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.

Beyond this date, only devices running the iOS 15.1 operating system or higher version would be supported.

The WhatsApp Spokesperson said, “Every year we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users.

“These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp,”

It's noteworthy that the oldest of the affected phones, iPhone 5s, was released over a decade ago, in 2013 precisely, while the most recent, iPhone 6 Plus, was released just a year later in 2014.

All of these iPhone models were discontinued by Apple in 2016 and were officially declared obsolete.

FN Blog

NUC inaugurates Committee for Disbursement of #50bn to varsities

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, has officially inaugurated a high profile 9-man Committee responsible for overseeing the disbursement of the Fifty Billion Naira (₦50 billion) earned academic allowance/earned allowance to eligible staff across Federal Universities, Inter-University Centres, and Divisions of Agricultural Colleges, in Nigeria.

The inauguration event took place on 24th April 2025 at the NUC headquarters, Abuja, the Nigeria's capital territory.

Mr. Mohammed Faruk was appointed as the Chairman of the Committee. It was reported that the nine members of the committee were carefully selected to assist in implementing this crucial initiative as mandated by the Federal Government.

This significant investment in the education sector is a reflection of Government's commitment to improve the welfare of university staff and enhance the overall quality of higher education in the country.

The committee is expected to clarify the specific criteria for eligibility and outline the disbursement process and submit the report within two weeks from the date of inauguration.

FN Blog

ECOWAS Convenes Meeting On Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger's Withdrawal

The Council of Ministers of The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened an extraordinary meeting in Accra, Ghana, to deliberate on the proposed withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic from the regional bloc.

The Chairman of the Council, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this on Thursday, 24th April 2025, in a statement issued from his office aide.

The Extraordinary Session follows directive from the Authority of Heads of State and Government during its 66th Ordinary Session, mandating the Council to adopt modalities and a contingency plan for the disengagement of the three Sahelian nations.

FN Blog

Meet the Acting Head of the Vatican

...He is Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Born in Dublin, Farrell spent over 30 years working in the US.

The Irish-American cardinal, little known in the wider world, was the one that broke the news on Pope Francis' demise on Easter Monday, 21st April 2025, in which he said, the Pope had "returned to the home of the Father".

After the announcement, Farrell took on one of his biggest roles as the "Camerlengo", or the person who runs the Vatican after the death or resignation of a pope.

Pope Francis nominated the Cardinal for the role in 2019.

He will remain in the position during the "Apostolica Sedes Vacans", the period between the death or resignation of a pope until the election of the next pontiff.

He also will play an important role in the centuries-old ceremonies to mourn Pope Francis.

FN Blog

Why some Cardinals aren't wearing Red, as they gather in Vatican

You may have observed that some cardinals are not wearing red garments, as the members of the College of Cardinals arrived in Rome ahead of Pope Francis' funeral and the upcoming conclave.

The Lying in State of the Pontiff takes place on Wednesday, 23rd April, whilst his funeral will occur on Saturday, 26th April, 2025.

In the epochal gathering, some of the cardinals seemed to have missed the fashion memo. But that's not true.

In the sea of red birettas, the men clad in black vestments and hats stand out. But what's going on?

When in public or at a diplomatic event, the cardinals wear "choir dress" — the red outfit one imagines when they hear the word "cardinal." That includes conclaves. But that only applies to cardinals who are members of the Latin Church.

The Catholic Church is more than just 'one Church' in the real sense; it's literally 24 Churches. While the vast majority of the world's Catholics are "Latin Catholics", about 18 million of them belong to one of the 23 "sui iuris" Churches.

The largest of these churches are the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Syro-Malabar Church, each with over 4 million members. The smallest Churches have only a few thousand members.

By comparison, the Latin Church has over a billion members.

With the exception of the Maronite Catholic Church, these churches were all formerly Eastern or Oriental Orthodox and elected to return to full communion with Rome.

While these Churches are autonomous, they are in full communion with Rome and acknowledge the pope as their leader, but still maintain some of their own liturgical traditions and customs.

So, those men wearing black are cardinals of the Eastern Churches.

Eastern Catholic bishops who are elevated to the College of Cardinals typically keep their traditional attire. So, no red.

There are presently five cardinal electors who belong to Eastern Catholic Churches.

These are: Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, a Chaldean Catholic; Cardinal Baselios Cleemis of the Syro-Malankara Church; Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, an Ethiopian Catholic; Cardinal Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; and Cardinal George Koovakad of the Syro-Malabar Church.

One of those has an interesting distinction: Cardinal Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who is serving in Australia, is the youngest cardinal.

The other three cardinals: Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi of the Maronite Catholic Church; Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church; and Cardinal Lucian Muresan of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, at ages 85, 80, and 93, respectively, are too old to vote in the conclave.

Cardinal Alencherry unfortunately missed the chance by merely a couple of days, as he clocked 80 years on April 19, 2025, just two days prior to the demise of Pope Francis.

FN Blog

Meet the renowned Nigerian Author & Columnist, Fred Nwaozor

Photo gallery of Fred Nwaozor

TheMediaAmbassador, as he's widely known, is a tech expert, author, scholar, creative & content writer, media strategist, policy analyst, blogger, public speaker and rights activist.

He maintains columns in various national dailies in Nigeria, for countless years now. He also regularly writes for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). He's a media guru that has, since over two decades till date, been actively present in all segments in the media industry - including electronic, print & digital. He's the Founder & Convener of Right Thinkers Movement (RITMO), Nigeria, a pro-democracy & good governance initiative targeted to usher in the needed change & transformation in the leadership system on the African continent.

Fred Nwaozor is a chartered engineer by profession. Academically, he obtained his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) in Industrial Physics/Electronics from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and later bagged Master of Engineering (M.Eng) in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, also from FUTO, before proceeding for his doctoral degree (Ph.D) in Telecommunications Engineering. He's a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).

Being a full-time researcher and educator in the academia, he's a regular contributor and peer reviewer for various internationally-recognized engineering journals. As a Telecom Engineer, his prime interest in research lies in IoT, Data security, wireless networks, Smart city, and AI.

His hobbies include reading, travelling, swimming, solving mathematical problems, listening to music, as well as playing table tennis, scrabble, and snooker.

FN Blog

BREAKING: Pope Francis Dies At 88

The Universal Leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has passed on at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. He reportedly died during the early hours of the Easter Monday, 21st April, 2025.

He was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina. He was the first pope from the Americans and also the first Jesuit pope. At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.

Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

FN Blog

US, Iran Hold Nuclear Talks in Rome

> The United States (US) and Iran have commenced bilateral talks in Rome, on April 19, 2025, in bid to reach nuclear deal.

The duo started a new round of nuclear talks to resolve their decades-long standoff over Tehran's atomic aims, under the shadow of President Donald Trump's threat to unleash military action if diplomacy fails.

"Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, and Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, will negotiate indirectly through an Omani official who will shuttle messages between the two sides," Iranian officials said, a week after a first round of indirect talks in Muscat that both sides described as constructive.

Araqchi and Witkoff interacted briefly at the end of the first round, but officials from the two countries have not held direct negotiations since 2015 under former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Araqchi, in a meeting with his Italian counterpart ahead of the talks, said "Iran had always been committed to diplomacy and called on "all parties involved in the talks to seize the opportunity to reach a reasonable and logical nuclear deal".

"Such an agreement should respect Iran's legitimate rights and lead to the lifting of unjust sanctions on the country while addressing any doubts about its nuclear work."

He said in Moscow on Friday that Iran believes reaching an agreement on its nuclear programme with the U.S. is possible as long as Washington is realistic.

"Rome becomes the capital of peace and dialogue," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on X. "I encouraged Araqchi to follow the path of negotiation against nuclear arms. The hope of the Italian government is that all together may find a positive solution for the Middle East."

Tehran has however sought to tamp down expectations of a quick deal, after some Iranian officials speculated that sanctions could be lifted soon.

Iran's utmost authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said this week he was "neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic".

For his part, Trump told reporters on Friday: "I'm for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific."

Meanwhile, Israel has not ruled out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to an Israeli official and two other people familiar with the matter.

Trump, who ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six powers during his first term in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran, has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on the country since returning to the White House in January, 2025.

"Washington wants Iran to halt production of highly enriched uranium, which it believes is aimed at building an atomic bomb." Trump said.

"Tehran, which has always maintained its nuclear programme is peaceful, says it is willing to negotiate some curbs in return for the lifting of sanctions, but wants watertight guarantees that Washington will not renege again."

Since 2019, Iran has breached and far surpassed the 2015 deal's limits on its uranium enrichment, producing stocks far above what the West says is necessary for a civilian energy programme.

Russia, a party to Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement, has offered "to assist, mediate, and play any role" that will be beneficial to Iran and the U.S.

FN Blog