Headline
Google Maps: Obasanjo’s Library, Abia Tower, Emir’s Palace Among Nigeria’s Top Reviewed Places

The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abia Tower Roundabout in Umuahia, and Emir’s Palace in Kano have emerged as some of the most reviewed places in Nigeria, according to a recent report by Google commemorating the 20th anniversary of Google Maps.
Other notable mentions include popular restaurants such as Farmcity Lekki Lounge, Crush Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe, and Domino’s Pizza in Wuse and Yaba. Highly rated cafés include Flowershop Cafe, Oliver’s Café, Salamander Cafe, Café de Vie, and Wood House Cafe.
Visitor attractions such as Dimplediva_scent, Oniru Private Beach, The Good Beach, and New Berger Roundabout in Ojodu Ikeja also stood out for their growing popularity.
Leading the rankings for parks are City Park Abuja, Muri Okunola Park, Tinubu Square, Ndubuisi Kanu Park, and Freedom Park Lagos. Among museums, the National Museum Benin City, Kalakuta Museum, National Museum Lagos, and Open Heavens International Centre topped the charts.
READ ALSO: Google Shares Slide On Spending Plans Despite Sales Jump
Commenting on the milestone, Google West Africa’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said:
“Google Maps has evolved from a basic navigation tool to a dynamic platform that helps people explore, discover, and share their experiences. The most reviewed places in Nigeria highlight the locations that matter most to our users, showcasing the country’s vibrant social and cultural landscape.”
Since its launch in 2005, Google Maps has transformed how people navigate and explore the world. Kola-Ogunlade noted key features that continue to drive user engagement, such as:
Gemini-Powered Recommendations: AI-driven suggestions for places to visit
Augmented Reality (Live View): Real-time navigation cues
READ ALSO: Google Drops Pledge Not To Use AI For Weapons
Airport Navigation: The “Directory” tab for exploring airport amenities
Fuel Station Finder: Helps users locate the cheapest petrol stations
Street View Time Travel: Offers historical imagery of locations
Group Planning & Reservations: Simplifies travel coordination
AI-Powered Route Previews: Explore routes before travel
Fuel-Efficient Routes: Environmentally friendly travel options
READ ALSO: Iran Hackers Target Harris And Trump Campaigns – Google
Highlighting the global impact of Google Maps, Kola-Ogunlade shared key statistics:
Over 1 trillion kilometers of directions provided
250 million businesses and locations listed worldwide
500 million user contributions annually
100 million daily updates for fresh and accurate information
As Google Maps continues to innovate, these most-reviewed locations showcase Nigeria’s vibrant cultural and social landscape through the lens of its diverse users.
(VANGUARD)
Headline
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Is Dead

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdulaziz, has died at the age of 82.
According to a statement from the Royal Court, the revered cleric passed away on Tuesday morning.
Born in Mecca in November 1943, Sheikh Abdulaziz rose to become one of the most influential religious authorities in the Kingdom.
He served as head of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, as well as the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League.
READ ALSO:
He was the third cleric to occupy the office of Grand Mufti after Sheikh Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Shaikh and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz.
In its tribute, the Royal Court said King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had extended condolences to the Sheikh’s family, the people of Saudi Arabia, and the wider Muslim world.
“With his passing, the Kingdom and the Islamic world have lost a distinguished scholar who made significant contributions to the service of science, Islam, and Muslims,” the statement read.
READ ALSO:Brazilian Jazz Legend, Hermeto Pascoal, Is Dead
A funeral prayer is scheduled to be held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh after the Asr prayer on Tuesday.
King Salman has also directed that funeral prayers be observed simultaneously at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and in all mosques across the Kingdom.
The Grand Mufti is regarded as Saudi Arabia’s most senior and authoritative religious figure. Appointed by the King, the officeholder also chairs the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
Headline
Antitrust Trial: US Asks Court To Break Up Google’s Ad Business

Google faces a fresh federal court test on Monday as US government lawyers ask a judge to order the breakup of the search engine giant’s ad technology business.
The lawsuit is Google’s second such test this year, following a similar government demand to split up its empire that was shot down by a judge earlier this month.
Monday’s case focuses specifically on Google’s ad tech “stack” — the tools that website publishers use to sell ads and that advertisers use to buy them.
In a landmark decision earlier this year, Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema agreed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that Google maintained an illegal grip on this market.
READ ALSO:Google Fined $36m In Australia Over Anticompetitive Search Deals
Monday’s trial is set to determine what penalties and changes Google must implement to undo its monopoly.
According to filings, the US government will argue that Google should spin off its ad publisher and exchange operations. The DOJ will also ask that after the divestitures are complete, Google be banned from operating an ad exchange for 10 years.
Google will argue that the divestiture demands go far beyond the court’s findings, are technically unfeasible, and would be harmful to the market and smaller businesses.
“We’ve said from the start that DOJ’s case misunderstands how digital advertising works and ignores how the landscape has dramatically evolved, with increasing competition and new entrants,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs.
READ ALSO:Google Introduces Initiative To Equip 1,000 Nigerian Developers
In a similar case in Europe, the European Commission, the EU’s antitrust enforcer, earlier this month fined Google 2.95 billion euros ($3.47 billion) over its control of the ad tech market.
Brussels ordered behavioral changes, drawing criticism that it was going easy on Google as it had previously indicated that a divestiture may be necessary.
This remedy phase of the US trial follows a first trial that found Google operated an illegal monopoly. It is expected to last about a week, with the court set to meet again for closing arguments a few weeks later.
The trial begins in the same month that a separate judge rejected a government demand that Google divest its Chrome browser, in an opinion that was largely seen as a victory for the tech giant.
That was part of a different case, also brought by the US Department of Justice, in which the tech giant was found responsible for operating an illegal monopoly, this time in the online search space.
READ ALSO:Iran Hackers Target Harris And Trump Campaigns – Google
Instead of a major breakup of its business, Google was required to share data with rivals as part of its remedies.
The US government had pushed for Chrome’s divestment, arguing the browser serves as a crucial gateway to the internet that brings in a third of all Google web searches.
Shares in Google-parent Alphabet have skyrocketed by more than 20 percent since that decision.
Judge Brinkema has said in pre-trial hearings that she will closely examine the outcome of the search trial when assessing her path forward in her own case.
These cases are part of a broader bipartisan government campaign against the world’s largest technology companies. The US currently has five pending antitrust cases against such companies.
AFP
Headline
Google Faces Court Battle Over Breakup Of Ad Tech Business

Google faces a fresh federal court test on Monday as US government lawyers ask a judge to order the breakup of the search engine giant’s ad technology business.
The lawsuit is Google’s second such test this year after the California-based tech juggernaut saw a similar government demand to split up its empire shot down by a judge earlier this month.
Monday’s case focuses specifically on Google’s ad tech “stack” — the tools that website publishers use to sell ads and that advertisers use to buy them.
In a landmark decision earlier this year, Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema agreed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that Google maintained an illegal grip on this market.
Monday’s trial is set to determine what penalties and changes Google must implement to undo its monopoly.
According to filings, the US government will argue that Google should spin off its ad publisher and exchange operations. The DOJ will also ask that after the divestitures are complete, Google be banned from operating an ad exchange for 10 years.
READ ALSO:Google Fined $36m In Australia Over Anticompetitive Search Deals
Google will argue that the divestiture demands go far beyond the court’s findings, are technically unfeasible, and would be harmful to the market and smaller businesses.
“We’ve said from the start that DOJ’s case misunderstands how digital advertising works and ignores how the landscape has dramatically evolved, with increasing competition and new entrants,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs.
In a similar case in Europe, the European Commission, the EU’s antitrust enforcer, earlier this month fined Google 2.95 billion euros ($3.47 billion) over its control of the ad tech market.
Brussels ordered behavioral changes, drawing criticism that it was going easy on Google as it had previously indicated that a divestiture may be necessary.
This remedy phase of the US trial follows a first trial that found Google operated an illegal monopoly. It is expected to last about a week, with the court set to meet again for closing arguments a few weeks later.
READ ALSO:Perplexity AI Makes $34.5bn Surprise Bid For Google’s Chrome Browser
The trial begins in the same month that a separate judge rejected a government demand that Google divest its Chrome browser, in an opinion that was largely seen as a victory for the tech giant.
That was part of a different case, also brought by the US Department of Justice, in which the tech giant was found responsible for operating an illegal monopoly, this time in the online search space.
Instead of a major breakup of its business, Google was required to share data with rivals as part of its remedies.
The US government had pushed for Chrome’s divestment, arguing the browser serves as a crucial gateway to the internet that brings in a third of all Google web searches.
Shares in Google-parent Alphabet have skyrocketed by more than 20 percent since that decision.
Judge Brinkema has said in pre-trial hearings that she will closely examine the outcome of the search trial when assessing her path forward in her own case.
These cases are part of a broader bipartisan government campaign against the world’s largest technology companies. The US currently has five pending antitrust cases against such companies.
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