By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Catholic faithful and in deed the whole world are still waiting for a new pope as plumes of black smoke emanated from the roof of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican earlier today as the voting by the conclave of Cardinals to elect a successor to the late Pope Francis ended without electing a new pope.

A muted roar went up from the faithful gathered at Rome’s St. Peter’s Square as soon as the black plume of smoke went up, with many consequently streaming out of the place to wait for the next voting round about 5.30pm Nigeria time.

White smoke from the chimney signals a new Pope has been elected.

The last conclave, which elected Francis in 2013, lasted two days and involved five ballots.

In 2005, when Pope Benedict XVI was chosen by the assembled cardinals, the process also lasted two days and took four ballots in total, while the conclave to elect John Paul II in 1978 took three days and eight ballots.

Of the modern conclaves, 10 since the beginning of the 20th century, the average length of time was three days and seven ballots.

Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, aged 88.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet have issued a warning to foreign visitors planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States: Do not overstay your visas.

While the U.S. government says it welcomes fans from around the world to experience the incredible venues and vibrant American culture, officials are making it clear that all visitors must leave the country once their authorized stay ends.

In a video posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that any visitors who overstay their visas will face action from the appropriate authorities.

“I know we will have visitors from close to 100 countries. We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the games. But when the time is up, they will have to go home — otherwise, they’ll have to talk to the Secretary,” the Vice President said.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation also emphasized the importance of respecting visa rules, while encouraging visitors to explore more of the country during their stay:

“We’re going to encourage everyone to go on a road trip to celebrate our great country. So if you’re coming to see some soccer, go on a road trip and see America. Don’t overstay your visa. Don’t stay too long. But when you come, actually see this great country that we’re going to celebrate over the course of the next year.”

This warning appears to be directed, in part, at some football fans in Ghana who have publicly expressed intentions not to return home after attending the tournament in the U.S.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the premier international men’s football (soccer) tournament, will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with matches held in 16 cities across the three countries. It marks the first time three nations have jointly hosted a World Cup, and only the second time multiple countries have done so — the first being Japan and South Korea in 2002.

The 2026 tournament will also feature a historic expansion to 48 teams, up from the previous 32, making it the largest World Cup in history.