Author: Vanguard News

  • How Logic-Based Hobbies Can Keep Your Brain Sharp

    How Logic-Based Hobbies Can Keep Your Brain Sharp

    As we age, we all wish to maintain our mental sharpness. There are those who read, others who do crossword puzzles and many who simply hope that their brains will have no trouble being sharp on their own. However, logic-based hobbies are an element of activities that subtly provide some of the greatest brain benefits. These are the types of activities that prepare you to plan, think, solve problems, and make decisions.   They do more than just kill time; they noticeably strengthen your brain over time.

    Playing card games is one of the most entertaining and productive logic-based pastimes. These activities will keep your brain at work when you perform them regularly. They expand the level of thinking, raise concentration, develop memory and even contribute to emotional control. They are particularly robust as they do not seem like work as much as they seem to be a play. Your brain gets beneficial exercise as you have fun.

    The Unseen Workout Your Brain Needs

    Your brain is the same as a muscle. It becomes less efficient as time goes by unless you use it regularly in challenging scenarios like in solving puzzles or playing strategic games that demand your cognitive skills. Logic-based pastimes provide your brain just the right amount of mental stimulation. They ensure that you remember facts, discern patterns, predict what may happen, and adapt to your plans when things shift.

    Logic hobbies require the use of active thinking unlike the passive activities such as scrolling through the phone. Every action you take has repercussions. You need to maintain your concentration, keep in mind the previous events, and plan ahead. This sustained brain activity assists the brain in creating new links and keeping neural networks in motion.

    In the long run, those who engage in such hobbies on a regular basis often complain that they feel more mentally sharp on busy or stressful days, recall information easier, and that they are able to resolve daily challenges faster.

    What Makes Logic Games So Effective

    The reason card games stand out among all logic-based pastimes is because they simultaneously need several cognitive abilities. You must recall what is already played, calculate probabilities, read the actions of other players, and make snap decisions when stressful.

    The experience is even more interactive when you play in a card game casino setting. The social aspect is an additional level; in a dynamic world, you might watch others, manage your emotions, and think strategically. Few other pastimes can provide your brain with a more comprehensive exercise than the combination of logic, memory, and social awareness.

    The fun factor is what makes card games so successful. You are more inclined to continue the exercise regularly since you find it enjoyable. The real lasting advantages to your brain are actually consistency, because in the long run, frequent participation in these enjoyable activities can result in cognitive ability and memory retention.

    How Pastimes Based on Logic Improve Attention

    As we get older, our ability to concentrate and remember things tends to deteriorate, but logic-based pastimes can help.The part of your brain that you use to store and use information in real time is called your working memory and is trained every time you play. Additionally, you exercise prolonged attention, which aids in maintaining focus in the face of distractions.

    These are not the only improvements that the game has received. Individuals often find that when they play, they are able to focus better in real-life scenarios. Their minds become less disorganized, they concentrate at work and remember details easier.

    One of the primary benefits of logical hobbies is making better decisions. It becomes more adept at handling sophisticated thinking in many facets of life when you consistently test it with logic-based tasks.

    Developing Improved Decision-Making Capabilities

    Making better decisions is one of the main advantages of logic games. You assess circumstances, consider risks, and make the best decision based on scant information when playing card games. This experience is similar to many real-life scenarios when we must make wise decisions even when we lack all the information.

    This practice will enhance your ability when under pressure. When things go wrong, you practice being more calm when something does go wrong and make more intelligent decisions when things are ambiguous. These are other life skills beyond the game table.

    The Emotional and Social Advantages

    Logic-based pastimes are usually pursued by multiple people. It has a social aspect that brings value when you play with your friends, family, or online competitors. Engaging with others while exercising your mind maintains your emotional well-being strong, lowers stress, and fights loneliness.

    Emotional balance is also achieved by the healthy competition and mutual laughs which usually come with these activities. The logical challenge not only stimulates your brain but also contributes to positive emotions and social relationships.

    Logic-Related Pastimes in Your Daily Routine

    The great part with logic based hobbies is that one does not need any special skills or costly equipment.  You just need to play a few games each week to start seeing results, so you may start small. Consistency is essential, rather than intensity.

    What many individuals come to realize is that by making time and committing to a logical activity sometimes once or twice a week such as playing cards with friends or family, they have created a fun habit that their brain learns to expect. This regular mental training eventually turns into one of the most pleasurable methods of maintaining mental acuity.

    Developing a Sharp Mind

    The beauty of logic based hobbies is that the more one does the hobby, the more the payoff. Whenever you regularly present your brain with the type of challenge these hobbies provide, it will be open and adaptable well into old age.

    Ultimately, completing challenging or tedious activities is not the key to maintaining mental acuity. It involves discovering pleasurable pursuits that inherently challenge your way of thinking . Combining enjoyment with thinking not only keeps brain function but also actively enhances it while creating positive memories and closer relationships with others. That is a win that will be won each day.

    The post How Logic-Based Hobbies Can Keep Your Brain Sharp appeared first on Vanguard News.

  • Student loan scheme supports over one million Nigerians — Tunji Alausa

    Student loan scheme supports over one million Nigerians — Tunji Alausa

    Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has highlighted key education reforms being implemented by the Federal Government under Bola Tinubu, noting that the Student Loan Scheme (NELFund) has supported over one million students with disbursements exceeding N1.1 billion. Alausa made this disclosure during the inauguration of two newly completed GYB Model Science Secondary Schools in […]

  • UK unveils workplace checks to curb illegal employment

    UK unveils workplace checks to curb illegal employment

    The United Kingdom has announced tougher steps to combat illegal employment, including expanded workplace inspections and stricter compliance requirements for businesses.

    In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, the UK Home Office reaffirmed its hardline stance, outlining a series of enforcement actions aimed at curbing unauthorised work and holding employers accountable.

    According to the department, the new measures are designed to strengthen immigration control and discourage companies from hiring individuals who lack legal permission to work in the country.

    Authorities said the crackdown will involve increased compliance activity, including on-site inspections and verification checks at business locations.

    “Illegal working will not be tolerated in the UK. We are: Introducing right to work checks; Removing illegal workers from the UK; Ensuring companies who break the rules face unlimited fines,” it wrote.

    The move comes as the government faces mounting political pressure to tighten immigration enforcement and respond to concerns about illegal employment across multiple sectors of the economy.

    Official estimates indicate that the UK is home to between 10 and 11 million foreign-born residents, representing roughly 17 per cent of the population.

    While the majority of migrants live and work legally under various visa categories such as employment, education, family reunification, or humanitarian protection, authorities note that a smaller proportion remain in the workforce without proper authorisation.

    The post UK unveils workplace checks to curb illegal employment appeared first on Vanguard News.

  • Fela makes history as first African to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    Fela makes history as first African to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    Legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has made history as the first African artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

    Fela will be honoured in the early influence category this year, along with Queen Latifah, rapper MC Lyte, country rocker Gram Parsons, and Cuban singer Celia Cruz.

    The honorees were revealed on Monday night in the US, during an airing of American Idol.

    Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu will be honoured in the performance category.

    However, Shakira, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, New Edition, and Pink, missed out on the final cut despite being nominated.

    Over 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals voted to decide the honorees.

    The induction ceremony will be held on 14 November at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

    DAILY POST recalls that earlier this year, Fela also made history as the first African musician to win the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.

    Fela makes history as first African to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

  • Ukraine Moves To Resume Russian Oil Supply Through Druzhba Pipeline

    Ukraine Moves To Resume Russian Oil Supply Through Druzhba Pipeline

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said repairs to the war-damaged Druzhba pipeline will be completed this spring, paving the way for the possible resumption of Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia by the end of April 2026.

    The Soviet-era pipeline, which carries Russian crude through Ukrainian territory to Central Europe, has been out of operation since late January following a Russian drone strike that damaged critical infrastructure in western Ukraine, disrupting supplies to countries heavily reliant on the route for discounted oil.

    Speaking last week, Zelensky said Kyiv remained committed to existing agreements with the European Union, stressing that the restoration work would be completed within the agreed timeline. He, however, noted that responsibility for the supply and purchase of the oil lies with European partners.

    The development follows weeks of diplomatic tension between Ukraine and Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had accused Kyiv of delaying repairs and threatened to block European Union financial aid and sanctions measures against Russia unless oil flows resumed.

    In response, the European Union stepped in with technical and financial support to accelerate the restoration process, an offer Ukraine accepted in a bid to ease tensions and stabilise energy supply in the region.

    Industry sources had earlier projected April as a likely timeline for the resumption of flows, a forecast that aligns with Zelensky’s latest remarks, although some storage facilities affected by the attack may take longer to fully restore.

    The planned reopening is seen as a pragmatic move to address energy security concerns in Central Europe while easing internal divisions within the EU over continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

    However, the timeline for resuming full operations will depend on the completion of final repair works and the absence of further attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the coming weeks.

    Ukraine Moves To Resume Russian Oil Supply Through Druzhba Pipeline is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

  • El-Rufai gets bail; court adjourns to April 21

    El-Rufai gets bail; court adjourns to April 21

    By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo, Kaduna

    Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on Tuesday secured bail from a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, bringing to an end a detention that lasted nearly two months.

    Read Also: El-Rufai’s mother Hajiya Umma is dead

    Meanwhile, a Kaduna State High Court adjourned ruling on a separate bail application to April 21.

    Delivering the ruling, Justice Rilwan Aikawa granted the former governor bail after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution.

    However, but ordered that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

    El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), had urged the court to admit his client to bail, arguing that it is a constitutional right and that the former governor has strong ties within Nigeria, making him unlikely to abscond.

    However, the prosecution, led by the ICPC, opposed the application, citing concerns that the defendant could interfere with witnesses or obstruct ongoing investigations if released.

    Bail conditions

    The court subsequently granted bail with stringent conditions, including a N200 million bond with two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties are to include a recognised traditional ruler and a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15. Other conditions include the submission of landed property documents, deposit of international passports with the court, and a restriction on public comments relating to the case, among others.

    A family member of the former governor, Bello El-Rufai, told journalists that efforts were underway to meet the conditions.

    “The conditions are many, close to 10 or more, but we hope to fulfil them,” he said.

    The ICPC had, on March 18, filed a 10-count charge against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, money laundering, and abuse of office.

    El-Rufai’s legal ordeal began on February 16, when he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Although he was initially granted bail, he was subsequently re-arrested by the ICPC and remained in custody for several weeks before his arraignment.

    On March 27, the ICPC granted him temporary release on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Umma.El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.

    He was, however, returned to custody after her burial.

    Proceedings were further complicated when the defence filed a motion asking Justice Aikawa to recuse himself over alleged bias, a request that was later withdrawn.

    State high court bail

    Meanwhile, at the Kaduna State High Court, proceedings in a separate case took a different turn as the presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, adjourned ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application to April 21, 2026.

    Counsel to the defendant informed the court that the defence team was served with an amended charge in court and required time to study its contents. The prosecution, also led by the ICPC, had filed an amended nine-count charge, altering the scope of the case and dropping a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, from the trial.

    Defence counsel, Ubong Akpan, explained that the adjournment was also due to the inability of the court to deliver the ruling as scheduled, citing the bereavement of the presiding judge.

    “His lordship was bereaved and he was unable to put the ruling together. So, we understand these things happen,” Akpan said, adding that the defence remains optimistic ahead of the next hearing date.

    El-Rufai is facing separate charges before the Kaduna State High Court bordering on abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

    There was heavy security presence at the court premises, with armed operatives stationed at strategic points to maintain order and restrict movement.

    Vanguard News

    The post El-Rufai gets bail; court adjourns to April 21 appeared first on Vanguard News.

  • 60 bag first class as BOUESTI sets to graduate 1,645 students

    60 bag first class as BOUESTI sets to graduate 1,645 students

    Vice Chancellor of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI), Professor Babatunde Omojola, has

  • Wike A Hard-Nosed Businessman, Deep Thinker — Tinubu

    Wike A Hard-Nosed Businessman, Deep Thinker — Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a “hard-nosed businessman” and “deep thinker,” crediting him for facilitating the partnership between HyperCity and Carrefour.

    Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the remarks on Tuesday at the formal collaboration and franchise signing event between HyperCity and Carrefour held at Transcorp Hilton.

    Commending Wike’s role in securing the deal, the President noted that the minister is not known to enter partnerships lightly, adding that those who have attempted to obtain permits through various channels can attest to his thorough approach.

    “I know him to be a hard-nosed businessman, a deep thinker, someone who doesn’t just jump into any partnership for the sake of jumping into a partnership. You can ask those who have tried in different ways to get permits.

    “Let’s leave politics out of it for now. I commend you (Wike) for changing the landscape of Abuja and this is just yet another feather to your cap,” Tinubu said.

    THE WHISTLER reports that the agreement between HyperCity and Carrefour is aimed at combining the global retailer’s brand strength with the Nigerian company’s local footprint to transform the country’s retail landscape.

    HyperCity is a premier retail chain offering groceries, household products, electronics and personal care items, with notable locations including a store at Slaughter Roundabout in Port Harcourt.

    Carrefour, on the other hand, is a French multinational retail and wholesaling corporation headquartered in Massy, France. It is a pioneer of the hypermarket concept operating over 14,000 stores across more than 40 countries.

    As the second-largest retailer globally by revenue, it offers a wide range of food and non-food products. It also operates globally through franchise partners such as Majid Al Futtaim across Africa and the Middle East.

    Speaking further at the event, Tinubu congratulated both companies, describing the deal as a strong signal of confidence in Nigeria’s economic potential and business environment.

    “Your decision… to ride your strengths, your brands and your vision on Nigerian soil is a testament to the fact that Nigeria remains without question the premier destination for investments and enterprise on the African continent,” he said.

    He also described the partners as “very smart people,” noting that their entry into Nigeria followed careful consideration of the country’s population, market size and growth potential.

    “Smart because business or going into a country, a continent, takes a lot of wisdom, takes a lot of research, takes a lot of deep thinking and what they have done is to research into Nigeria.

    “They didn’t just jump in, they looked at the population, they looked at the size, they looked at the potential and thought Nigeria was the place to go. I commend them,” Tinubu said.

    According to the President, the partnership is expected to deliver world-class retail experiences, create thousands of jobs and deepen Nigeria’s integration into global supply chains.

    “That is not a small thing, that is transformational. To the broader business community, both domestic and international, I say this on the highest authority, Nigeria is open for business,” he added.

    Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for such investments, highlighting ongoing reforms targeted at strengthening the regulatory framework, improving the investment climate and building infrastructure to support modern commerce.

    He further encouraged both local and foreign investors to emulate the HyperCity–Carrefour model, expressing confidence that the initiative would expand beyond its current scope.

    “We do not just welcome this collaboration, we celebrate it as a model, a model of what is possible when bold entrepreneurs look to Nigeria and see not just a market but a home for long-term partnership,” he said.

    According to him, while Abuja may be “sowing the seed,” the partnership is expected to grow into a nationwide retail network.

    “That seed is going to grow into a tree with many branches across different cities in Nigeria, starting with Lagos State,” he said.

    Wike A Hard-Nosed Businessman, Deep Thinker — Tinubu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

  • Diaspora Nigerians seek collaboration with FG to fix health sector challenges

    Diaspora Nigerians seek collaboration with FG to fix health sector challenges

    There is a need for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and its diaspora professionals as a way of addressing the challenges in the nation’s health sector. The call was made recently by the Chairman of the UK branch of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association, Dr Oluwole Adeniyan, who also warned that systemic challenges in […]

  • UCL: UEFA rules on Barcelona’s complaint over referee in Atletico Madrid defeat

    UCL: UEFA rules on Barcelona’s complaint over referee in Atletico Madrid defeat

    UEFA’s Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday, ruled that Barcelona’s complaint regarding the controversial refereeing in their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, is “inadmissible”.

    The Catalans had filed a formal notice last week, alleging that the performance of referee Istvan Kovacs in the first leg of the quarter-final tie at the Spotify Camp Nou.

    The incident involved Atletico’s Marc Pubill, who handled the ball inside the box following a pass from goalkeeper Juan Musso.

    Barça argued it should have been a penalty and a second yellow for Pubill, while both the referee and Atletico Madrid maintained that the ball was not yet in play.

    As such, Barcelona proceeded to lodge an official complaint, seeking an explanation for the decisions as well as access to the recordings of the conversations between the referee and the VAR.

    However, a UEFA statement, read: “Following the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, played on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona lodged a protest concerning a refereeing decision.

    “On April 13, 2026, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest inadmissible.”

    UCL: UEFA rules on Barcelona’s complaint over referee in Atletico Madrid defeat