Galápagos tortoise, feared extinct, has first sighting in 100 years

A photo of the newly discovered adult female Fernandina Giant Tortoise.
A photo of the newly discovered adult female Fernandina Giant Tortoise.

Image: ECUADOR ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

2018%252f06%252f26%252fc2%252f20182f062f252f5a2fphoto.d9abc.b1c04.jpg%252f90x90By Matt Binder

More than 100 years since it was last seen by humans, a species of giant tortoise has been found on the Galápagos island of Fernandina.

According to the government of Ecuador, an adult female Chelonoidis phantasticus, more commonly known as the Fernandina Giant Tortoise, was spotted on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. This species of tortoise was last seen alive in 1906. The International Union for Conservation of Nature had previously listed the turtle as critically endangered and possibly extinct.

The tortoise is said to be in good health, but underweight. It is believed that she is about 100 years old. According to the Turtle Conservancy, she’s “about half to two-thirds the size” of the only other Fernandina Giant Tortoise that’s ever been found, a deceased male discovered 113 years ago.

SEE ALSO: PETA criticized Google’s Steve Irwin art and people are not happy

The expedition brought park rangers and biologists across a “three mile stretch of hardened lava flow,” where experts believed the tortoise could possibly inhabit. Led by tortoise scat, the team uncovered a bedding site and found the giant tortoise buried deep under a pile of brush, sheltering itself from the sun. 

The giant tortoise has been relocated to the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center on the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz. 

There’s possibly more good news as well. Based on findings of tortoise scat and track marks on Fernandina Island, there’s hope that this specific animal isn’t the only Fernandina Giant Tortoise living on the island.

The Fernandina Giant Tortoise was located through a joint effort by the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) and the U.S.-based Galápagos Conservancy’s Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative (GTRI).

The search for the tortoise on Fernandina, the third largest of the Galápagos islands, was funded by Animal Planet for the series Extinct or Alive. The network says the episode documenting the whole expedition will premiere in summer 2019.

Funding is already being pledged for future expeditions to find a mate for the female tortoise that could help conserve the critically endangered species.

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Oppo’s 10x optical zoom technology is coming to a phone in Q2 2019

Samsung might have everyone mesmerized by its foldable Galaxy Fold phone (for now), but if you really want to see weird and wonderful phone innovations, you need to look at what Chinese tech companies like Oppo are doing.

Though less known outside of Asia, Oppo has quickly catapulted itself to the front of the mobile consciousness thanks to string of breakthroughs over the last few years. First it created the 5x optical zoom lens that used a periscope design, then the Find X and its motorized camera top, and at Mobile World Congress 2019, the company introduced another world’s first for a phone: 10x optical zoom.

SEE ALSO: 6 major challenges foldable phones need to overcome to prove they’re not a fad

Cramming 10x optical zoom into a smartphone is a hell of an engineering feat. Look around at most smartphones and even the best, including the iPhone XS and Galaxy S10, only have cameras capable of 2x optical zoom.

To achieve 10x optical zoom in a phone, Oppo’s included three cameras to cover a broad range of focal lengths from 16mm to 160mm.

There’s a 48-megapixel main camera, an ultra-wide camera (equivalent to a 16mm lens), and a telephoto lens (equivalent to a 160mm lens). The 10x optical zoom uses a periscope and prism system similar to the one Oppo pioneered with the 5x optical zoom a few years back.

Three cameras are officially the new norm on phones.

Three cameras are officially the new norm on phones.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

Though the phone is slated for a release in the second quarter of the year, Oppo wasn’t quite ready to show off a final design. Demo units available for media to try out the 10x optical zoom were covered in a bulky case to hide the phone’s design. Aside from the triple camera on the rear and USB-C port on the bottom, the only other thing we know about the phone is it’s got a notch.

But just how good is the 10x optical zoom? It definitely works, but it still needs more polish.

Despite dozens of demo units available for tech reporters to test out, the pre-production camera software was very hit-or-miss. It was often difficult to control the amount of visible shaking on the screen, which was being countered by the built-in optical image stabilization.

Everything from 1x to 10x looks okay when zoomed in. But after 10x, it's all digital zoom so images it's not as sharp.

Everything from 1x to 10x looks okay when zoomed in. But after 10x, it’s all digital zoom so images it’s not as sharp.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

Up to 10x zoom, subjects look mostly sharp. I noticed some blurriness around the edges of a shots taken on some phones, but not on others.

Below is a photo shot at 10x optical zoom. It looks good zoomed all the way in.

Details look sharp at 10x optical zoom.

Details look sharp at 10x optical zoom.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

There’s also a 20x zoom option, but then you’re playing with digital zoom, which as you probably already know is nowhere near as good as optical zoom.

At 20x digital zoom, the photos look like mashed potatoes.

20x digital zoom is no good.

20x digital zoom is no good.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

Occasionally, you might be able to get somewhat sharp results at 20x digital zoom, but you’ll see a lot of visible on-screen choppiness as the camera tries to stabilize the frame. 

Digital zoom is always terrible.

Digital zoom is always terrible.

Image: raymond wong/mashable

Still, even though Oppo’s 10x optical zoom wasn’t fully baked, the technology is promising and is yet another way smartphones are killing any need for a real camera. 

As I said on Twitter, 10x optical zoom on a phone is overkill for most people, but at least Oppo is trying something new. In many ways, Oppo and all of the many Chinese phone maker at MWC remind me of old Samsung from years ago — trying new things even if they never stick. Maybe innovations like 10x optical zoom ultimately don’t make sense on a phone, but it at least gives Oppo a way to differentiate its phones from the status quo. And lord knows phones need unique features to keep them from all looking the same.

In addition to unveiling its 10x optical zoom technology, which will launch in a phone sometime in the second quarter of the year, Oppo also used its press event to announce a 5G smartphone powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 chip and X50 5G modem. Oppo was pretty light on details for the 5G phone, but confirmed four European carriers as partners. 

I wish I was more excited for another 5G phone announced at MWC, but it’s not easy to get all jazzed up for a device that few people will be able to use when 5G networks aren’t even properly in place yet.

MWC and 2019 will see a ton of companies announce 5G phones — Samsung’s gonna release an S10 5G version is coming in the second quarter of this year — but until 5G networks are up and running (which won’t happen until 2020 at the earliest for most of the world), these first new 5G phones might well not exist.

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Live: Chelsea vs. Man City for Carabao Cup

  • footballitalia @footballitalia

  • Sky Sports Football @SkyFootball

    ⏰ – 2 seconds on the clock and Aguero hits the deck!

    A coming together straight from kick-off!

    Watch @ChelseaFC take on @ManCity in the @Carabao_Cup live on Sky Sports Football now! https://t.co/chbdlDzEjq https://t.co/ZcEu3lO5dW

  • SiriusXM FC 157 ⚽📻 @SiriusXMFC

    @talkSPORTLive Elbows flying already!

    #Jorginho hits #Aguero right at the kick off! #CHEMCI https://t.co/1LMCWynnvn

  • ESPN FC @ESPNFC

    Handball or free kick? The referee wasn’t interested in either.

    Watch Chelsea-Man City in the Carabao Cup exclusively on ESPN+ https://t.co/4vsR7ZoFxI https://t.co/aBO2LN5d8H

  • B/R Football @brfootball

  • London Is Blue Podcast 🎙 @LondonBluePod

  • Stuart Brennan @StuBrennanMEN

  • Stuart Brennan @StuBrennanMEN

  • via Bleacher Report

  • via Bleacher Report

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

    Here’s how the Blues line up for #CHEMCI! 💪 https://t.co/5xSI81BCzJ

  • Squawka Football @Squawka

  • football.london @Football_LDN

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

  • Manchester City @ManCity

    Your City starting line-up for #CHEMCI… 🗒

    XI | Ederson, Zinchenko, Laporte, Otamendi, Walker, Fernandinho, Silva (C), De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

    SUBS | Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Gundogan, Sane, Mahrez, Foden.

    @HaysWorldwide 🔵 #mancity https://t.co/XH6b1krQ0z

  • via Goal

  • Nouman @nomifooty

    John Terry in Chelsea’s dressing room! Sarri please let this man give the team talk today! https://t.co/B63Ugwjqys

  • London Is Blue Podcast 🎙 @LondonBluePod

  • 90min @90min_Football

  • Goal @goal

  • Bitter and Blue🦈 @Bitter_and_Blue

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • talkSPORT @talkSPORT

  • Alex McGovern @AlexMcGovern11

  • ITV Football @itvfootball

  • Sky Sports Football @SkyFootball

  • Phil McNulty @philmcnulty

  • Match of the Day @BBCMOTD

  • International Champions Cup @IntChampionsCup

  • Matt Law @Matt_Law_DT

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

  • Paul Hayward @_PaulHayward

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Simon Johnson @sjstandardsport

  • Standard Sport @standardsport

  • Liam Twomey @liam_twomey

  • Manchester City @ManCity

  • BBC Sport @BBCSport

  • Football365 @F365

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsella

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Sam Tighe @stighefootball

  • MailOnline Sport @MailSport

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • WhoScored.com @WhoScored

  • Simon Johnson @sjstandardsport

  • Guardian sport @guardian_sport

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsella

  • Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsella

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

  • BBC Sport @BBCSport

  • footballitalia @footballitalia

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • Brian Dunseth @BrianDunseth

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Stuart Brennan @StuBrennanMEN

  • Liam Twomey @liam_twomey

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    Live: Chelsea vs. Man City for Carabao Cup

  • footballitalia @footballitalia

  • Sky Sports Football @SkyFootball

    ⏰ – 2 seconds on the clock and Aguero hits the deck!

    A coming together straight from kick-off!

    Watch @ChelseaFC take on @ManCity in the @Carabao_Cup live on Sky Sports Football now! https://t.co/chbdlDzEjq https://t.co/ZcEu3lO5dW

  • SiriusXM FC 157 ⚽📻 @SiriusXMFC

    @talkSPORTLive Elbows flying already!

    #Jorginho hits #Aguero right at the kick off! #CHEMCI https://t.co/1LMCWynnvn

  • ESPN FC @ESPNFC

    Handball or free kick? The referee wasn’t interested in either.

    Watch Chelsea-Man City in the Carabao Cup exclusively on ESPN+ https://t.co/4vsR7ZoFxI https://t.co/aBO2LN5d8H

  • B/R Football @brfootball

  • London Is Blue Podcast 🎙 @LondonBluePod

  • Stuart Brennan @StuBrennanMEN

  • Stuart Brennan @StuBrennanMEN

  • via Bleacher Report

  • via Bleacher Report

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

    Here’s how the Blues line up for #CHEMCI! 💪 https://t.co/5xSI81BCzJ

  • Squawka Football @Squawka

  • football.london @Football_LDN

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

  • Manchester City @ManCity

    Your City starting line-up for #CHEMCI… 🗒

    XI | Ederson, Zinchenko, Laporte, Otamendi, Walker, Fernandinho, Silva (C), De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

    SUBS | Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Gundogan, Sane, Mahrez, Foden.

    @HaysWorldwide 🔵 #mancity https://t.co/XH6b1krQ0z

  • via Goal

  • Nouman @nomifooty

    John Terry in Chelsea’s dressing room! Sarri please let this man give the team talk today! https://t.co/B63Ugwjqys

  • London Is Blue Podcast 🎙 @LondonBluePod

  • 90min @90min_Football

  • Goal @goal

  • Bitter and Blue🦈 @Bitter_and_Blue

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • talkSPORT @talkSPORT

  • Alex McGovern @AlexMcGovern11

  • ITV Football @itvfootball

  • Sky Sports Football @SkyFootball

  • Phil McNulty @philmcnulty

  • Match of the Day @BBCMOTD

  • International Champions Cup @IntChampionsCup

  • Matt Law @Matt_Law_DT

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

  • Paul Hayward @_PaulHayward

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Simon Johnson @sjstandardsport

  • Standard Sport @standardsport

  • Liam Twomey @liam_twomey

  • Manchester City @ManCity

  • BBC Sport @BBCSport

  • Football365 @F365

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsella

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Sam Tighe @stighefootball

  • MailOnline Sport @MailSport

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • WhoScored.com @WhoScored

  • Simon Johnson @sjstandardsport

  • Guardian sport @guardian_sport

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsella

  • Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsella

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC

  • BBC Sport @BBCSport

  • footballitalia @footballitalia

  • Chelsea HQ @Chelsea_HQ

  • Brian Dunseth @BrianDunseth

  • Dan Levene @danlevene

  • Stuart Brennan @StuBrennanMEN

  • Liam Twomey @liam_twomey

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    BBC’s first ‘His Dark Materials’ teaser is here, but no date yet

    By Adam Rosenberg

    If you’re curious to know what BBC One’s TV adaptation of sci-fi author Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy looks like, here’s 30 seconds to chew on.

    No, it’s really not a lot. There’s also no mention of a release date in the teaser, beyond the vague promise that it’s “coming soon.” But you’ll catch your first look at Logan star Dafne Keen in the starring role of Lyra Belacqua, along with Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy, Clarke Peters, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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    Xiaomi Mi 9: triple camera and fast wireless charging for $509

    Xiaomi Mi 9: A beastly phone with an affordable price.
    Xiaomi Mi 9: A beastly phone with an affordable price.

    Image: Xiaomi

    2016%252f09%252f16%252f6f%252fhttpsd2mhye01h4nj2n.cloudfront.netmediazgkymdezlza1.53aea.jpg%252f90x90By Stan Schroeder

    Xiaomi’s Mi 9 isn’t exactly new: The company launched its new flagship smartphone a few days ago in China. 

    But at an event ahead of the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, the company revealed the European pricing for the handset, along with a launch date: February 28. 

    SEE ALSO: Xiaomi’s new Redmi Note 7 is significantly cheaper than other phones with a 48-megapixel camera

    The Mi 9 has a 6.39-inch screen with a small, waterdrop-style notch, a Snapdragon 855 chip, a triple, 48/16/12-megapixel rear camera, a 20-megapixel selfie camera, 6/8GB of RAM and 64/128GB of storage. It has a 3,300mAh battery with fast, 20W wireless charging (Xiaomi says it’ll go from 0 to 100% in 90 minutes). It runs Android 9.0 and comes with Xiaomi’s MIUI 10 skin. 

    Those specs are pretty much the norm for flagship smartphones these days, but where Xiaomi shines is the price: The Mi 9 costs 449 euros ($509) for the 6/64GB version, and 499 euros ($566) for the 6/128GB version. 

    As far as looks go, the Mi 9 looks like a beefed-up iPhone XS on the back. Details like the colored ring around the main camera lens don’t do enough to set the design apart from Apple’s phones, but are a nice touch nevertheless. 

    The Mi 9 is available in Spain, France and Italy for pre-order now; it will show up in stores on Feb. 28. It’s available in three colors: Ocean Blue, Lavender Violet and Piano Black. 

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    Liverpool Top the EPL Table After Injury-Filled Draw with Manchester United

    Manchester United's English defender Luke Shaw (L) shakes hands with Manchester United's Swedish defender Victor Lindelof (R) as Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (C) looks on during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 24, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /         (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

    OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

    Liverpool moved back to the top of the Premier League on Sunday, as they drew 0-0 with Manchester United at Old Trafford. 

    The first period was a fractured affair, as the Red Devils were forced into using all three of their substitutes. Ander Herrera was replaced by Andreas Pereira, then Jesse Lingard came on for Juan Mata; Lingard then went down with an issue himself, prompting the introduction of Alexis Sanchez. Roberto Firmino also limped off for Liverpool.

    Unsurprisingly, neither side found their rhythm in a goalless opening 45 minutes. After the break the pattern of the game continued, with little spark in attack meaning both goalkeepers remained relatively untroubled.

    The result sees Liverpool move a point of Manchester City, who are in action in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea later in the day.

    Injury Crisis Will Test Solskjaer’s Management Skills

    Given he was only appointed in December, there’s still a lot to learn about Solskjaer as a manager. With the injury issues mounting up, he will be tested in the coming weeks.

    Not only did Herrera, Mata and Lingard hobble out of the game, the Red Devils were also without Anthony Martial and Nemanja Matic because of fitness issues. During the clash, forward Marcus Rashford was also clearly in some discomfort.

    Having found a style early in his managerial tenure, Solskjaer will now have to conjure up a different way of getting results.

    Football journalist and author Tom Williams thinks this will be a good way for the coach to show off his credentials:

    Tom Williams @tomwfootball

    On the plus side, Solskjaer’s going to have a great opportunity to show he can match Pochettino by getting results with key players missing.

    After a fine start to life in the Old Trafford hotseat, talk has started to intensify regarding Solskjaer being handed the job at United on a full-time basis, having been only initially appointed until the end of the campaign.

    If Solskjaer can keep United in the hunt for the top four and the FA Cup with the treatment room so packed, surely the club’s hierarchy will have no choice but to make him the permanent boss.

    Klopp Should Put Faith in Keita During Title Run-In

    Liverpool were able to capitalise on the injury issues United were having in midfield and had possession of the ball for long spells in the game. However, there was little invention coming from this facet of the team.

    Fabinho was impressive and composed in front of the back four, although further ahead Georginio Wijnaldum and captain Jordan Henderson did little to impact the game from an attacking perspective.

    At half-time, football journalist Leanne Prescott was calling on Klopp to introduce some impetus to this area of the pitch in the form of Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri:

    Leanne Prescott @_lfcleanne

    Would get Naby Keita or Xherdan Shaqiri on as soon as possible. Liverpool need to be a lot more potent in the final-third.

    Although Keita has endured a disappointing first season at Liverpool overall, there have been small signs in recent weeks that he is beginning to find his feet, especially in the clash with Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

    There are some huge games for Liverpool to come between now and the end of the season, both domestically and in Europe. The time feels right for Klopp to give the Guinea international a run in the side and avoid further toothless midfield displays.

    What’s next?

    Liverpool will be up against Watford in the Premier League at Anfield on Wednesday. On the same night and in the same competition, the Red Devils will travel to an in-form Crystal Palace side.

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    Tony Hawk teaching his daughter to skate is the sweetest dad moment

    Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

    2016%252f09%252f16%252f63%252fhttpsd2mhye01h4nj2n.cloudfront.netmediazgkymde1lza2.c97cf.jpg%252f90x90By Adam Rosenberg

    Plenty of kids give their parents a few extra gray hairs when they take up skateboarding. That’s even true for the Tony Hawk household, apparently.

    The legendary skateboarder delighted his Twitter fans on Saturday with a heartwarming father-daughter moment. Kadence Hawk, 10, is just starting to pick up her dad’s hobby, and this video shows her conquering her fear of falling while the senior Hawk cheers her on.

    The video only shows half the story. As Papa Hawk himself notes in the accompanying tweet, “I might have been more nervous than she was.”

    SEE ALSO: Finally, a New Tony Hawk Game

    In this moment, Hawk ceases to be the greatest skateboarder in the sport’s history; he’s just a nervous dad, quietly cheering on his daughter and hoping she comes out of the moment a stronger and more confident young person.

    It’s a very sweet family moment, and Hawk’s decision to share it is one of the reasons he’s become such a beloved figure on social media.

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    Taylor Swift sang for one *very* lucky couple’s engagement party

    Image: Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

    2016%252f09%252f16%252f63%252fhttpsd2mhye01h4nj2n.cloudfront.netmediazgkymde1lza2.c97cf.jpg%252f90x90By Adam Rosenberg

    Alexander Goldschmidt’s engagement party was better than everyone else’s engagement party.

    After popping the question and getting an emphatic “yes!” from fiancé Ross Girard, the happy couple headed off to party with friends and family. Also, a big surprise: Taylor Swift and her acoustic guitar.

    During his big toast thanking everyone for coming and keeping the engagement plans quiet, Goldschmidt admitted that he had one more big secret that he hadn’t shared with anyone. Then he invited “my friend Taylor” to join him.

    Swift glided into the room at that point, guitar in hand, as the small crowd gasped and squealed with excitement. The pop star explained that Goldschmidt had emailed her to ask for the surprise performance of a special song for the couple, “King of My Heart.”

    What a sweet way to celebrate such a joyous moment. Not everyone can get in touch with Taylor freaking Swift, but this just goes to show: it never hurts to ask!

    SEE ALSO: Want to see a musical ‘Sesame Street’ movie with Anne Hathaway?

    Based on Goldschmidt’s Twitter feed, Swift stuck around for at least a little while after her performance to chat with the happy couple and pose for a few pics.

    Big congrats to the happy couple. And to anyone who’s preparing to pop the question themselves, I’m sorry. The bar has just been raised.

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    Dozens killed as Nigeria counts results of poll

    Abuja, Nigeria – At least 27 people were killed and several others injured on Saturday, as violence marred Nigeria’s delayed presidential and legislative polls.

    On Sunday, the Election Network group said the outbreak of violence was “worrying” and that the authorities had been warned about the risk, as another civil society group said the death toll could be as high as 35.

    “Prior to the polls, we tracked 251 election related deaths and circulated it to the relevant stakeholders, so the warning signals are there but nothing was done about it,” Election Network lead strategist Adewunmi Emoruwa said.

    “[The] government must now show strong will to prosecute [the] agents responsible for the violence, otherwise we might witness a resort to self help by citizens, which could potentially escalate the situation and lead to more deaths post elections,” he added

    Violence affected areas in the country’s restive northeast prior to polling on Saturday.

    There were explosions early Saturday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, which has come under repeated attacks by the Boko Haram.

    Residents of Geidam in neighbouring Yobe state were forced to flee their homes into the bush before polls opened.

    Some ballot collection centres in southern Nigeria were attacked overnight as results trickled in.

    Vote delays

    Late delivery of voting materials affected polling as Nigerians turned out en masse to vote in what is expected to be the closest presidential election in the country’s political history.

    The elections were marred by delays in delivery of voting materials and attacks.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is investigating allegations of violence and theft of electoral materials during Saturday’s closely-fought presidential and legislative elections.

    The civil society situation room group is calling on the electoral commission to resolve some of the logistical lapses.

    “In Lagos State, for instance, there are reports of disruption of voting by suspected political thugs who have shot in the air in some places and set ballot boxes and paper on fire in others,” Clement Nwankwo said.

    Polling will continue on Sunday in some areas where elections were cancelled.

    Elections were cancelled in southern Rivers state and some areas in the country’s commercial centre, Lagos.

    Tense wait for results

    Most Nigerians expect a tight race between incumbent Muhammadu Buhari and the main opposition challenger Atiku Abubakar.

    Results from some states indicate a close race but both sides say that they are confident of victory.

    “I will congratulate myself; I am going to be the winner,” Buhari said on Saturday after voting in his Daura home.

     Abubakar is optimistic about his party’s chances of victory after the polls.

     “We look forward to sharing some exciting news in other parts of the country very soon, which will confound all the armchair pundits,” he said.

    “The people of Nigeria can take solace that very soon the living nightmare of the last four years will come to an end so that together we will get Nigeria working again,” Abubakar added.

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