Armed thugs attack #EndSARS protesters in Lagos (Guardian)
Armed thugs attacked protesters in Alausa area of Ikeja in Lagos State.
The scene of the attack was close to Lagos Government secretariat, Lagos State House of Assembly, governor’s office and a police station.
Although eyewitnesses said the attackers came in Bus Mass Transit (BRT) buses that belong to the Lagos State Government, authorities of Lagos Bus Services Limited said the thugs were transported to the scene of the attack in yellow buses.
The thugs were seen with sticks, cutlasses, and daggers attacking the peaceful protesters while policemen stood by. Read more
Lagos denies sponsoring thugs to disrupt #EndSARS protests (Nation)
The Lagos State Government has denied sponsoring thugs to disrupt #EndSARS protests in the commercial city.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement, said the allegations trending in the social media are “obviously concocted by enemies of peace and orderliness to whip up sentiments against the government, which has been doing everything possible to resolve the crisis by identifying with our youths in their efforts towards police reforms.”
Armed thugs stormed Alausa early Thursday morning to chase away protesters, some of whom slept overnight at the entrance to the Governor’s Office. Read more
Baba Alado denies sponsoring thugs to attack #EndSARS protesters (Punch)
Popular land developer and speculator, Alhaji Taoreed Faronbi, otherwise known as Baba Alado, has denied sponsoring thugs to attack #EndSARS protesters in the Alausa area of Lagos State.
Baba Alado said this during a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Thursday.
The Mushin leader, who wields a large following, said he was shocked to hear that he was trending on social media.
Baba Alado, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, said he had not been to Alausa in almost 15 years, adding that he had no reason to attack any protester. Read more
Nigeria’s headline inflation hits 13.71% (Guardian)
Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 13.71 percent as of September, the consumer price index (CPI) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) today shows.
The CPI measures the average change over time in the prices of goods and services consumed by people.
The figure is 0.49 percent points higher than the 13.22 percent year-on-year recorded in August.
On a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation increased by 1.48 percent in September, which was a 0.14 percent rate higher than the figure of the August rate (1.34 percent). Read more
Court declines to compel FG to pay ex-CJN Onnoghen N130m (Nation)
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking N130 million as damages from the Federal Government and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for violation of the rights of ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo held, among others that the applicant, Dr. N.S. Nwawka, filed the suit without Justice Onnoghen’s permission, thus he had no locus standi.
In his October 12, 2020 ruling, the judge held: “I have looked at the originating processes filed by the applicant herein, with due respect to him, I do not see any nexus between him and the respondents jointly or severally. Read more
3 arrested for gang rape in Ogun (Vanguard)
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three young men who gang-raped a 16-year-old girl (name withheld) at Pata Abiodun village in Ifo local government area of the state.
A statement issued by the command spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, 14th of October, 2020, following a report lodged at Ifo Police station by Alimi Olasunkanmi, an administrative officer of So-Safe corps.
The statement gave the names of the suspects to include Oluwaseun Damilohun 20 years, Oriyomi Damilohun 19 years and Oluwasegun Idowu 18 years. Read more
Nigeria only African country barred from 2022 US visa lottery (Punch)
Nigerians have been barred from participating in the United States’ visa lottery in 2022.
This was contained in a document obtained from the US’ website on Thursday.
The 19-page document is titled ‘Instructions for the 2022 diversity immigrant visa program (dv-2022)’.
“In Africa, natives of Nigeria are not eligible for this year’s Diversity Visa program,” the document stated.
However, natives from other African countries are eligible to apply, but “persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt are chargeable, Read more
#EndSARS: Nigerian army warning amid anti-police brutality protests (BBC)
The Nigerian military has issued a warning to “subversive elements and trouble makers” to desist after a week of protests about police brutality.
The warning came as protesters were attacked by unidentified men with machetes in the capital, Abuja.
Demonstrations against police brutality have taken place in cities across Nigeria in the past week.
The protests have continued despite authorities agreeing to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars). Read more
INEC announces date for 2023 presidential election (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday announced the date for the 2023 presidential election.
INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu said the 2023 presidential election is scheduled to hold on February 18, 2023.
Yakubu made the disclosure at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review. Read more
Thai protests: Demonstrators gather again in Bangkok, defying crackdown (BBC)
Protesters have taken to the streets again in the Thai capital Bangkok, defying a ban on gatherings and sweep of arrests of key protest leaders.
The protesters chanted “Free our friends!” – calling for the release of those detained in the crackdown.
Many held up a three-finger salute, which has become a symbol of the student-led protest movement.
An emergency decree was issued early on Thursday morning in response to protests in Bangkok on Wednesday. Read more
Peyton Manning’s six-pack has social media losing its mind (NYPost)
And hello, to Peyton Manning and his six-pack.
Earlier this week, the former NFL quarterback was spotted at the beach in Miami, where he tossed a Nerf football around with his family. Sporting shades, a navy blue hat and bright blue swim trunks, social media had plenty to say about 44-year-old Manning’s shredded physique.
Peyton Maanning
Peyton ManningOPX / BACKGRID
“So …We can talk about the #sixpack of my babe #PeytonManning ???” one fan posted to Instagram. Read more
Sen. Kamala Harris cancels trips after two linked to campaign test positive for COVID-19 (USAToday)
Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, canceled campaign trips to key battleground states through Sunday after two people associated with the campaign tested positive for COVID-19.
Harris had planned to campaign Thursday in North Carolina, in Asheville and Charlotte; on Friday in Cleveland; and on Saturday in Pennsylvania, in Allentown and Philadelphia.
The positive tests late Wednesday included a flight crew member, who doesn’t work for the campaign, and the senator’s communications director, Liz Allen, according to Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon. Harris wasn’t in close contact with either person within two days of the tests and so faces no obligation to quarantine, O’Malley Dillon said. Read more
US election: Trump and Biden compete with separate Q&A events (BBC)
President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will hold competing prime-time Q&A sessions later on Thursday, from separate locations.
The events replace a cancelled second presidential debate after Mr Trump’s refusal to participate virtually following his Covid-19 diagnosis.
The twin events, both televised at 20:00EST (00:00 GMT), will see the candidates field questions from voters.
Millions of early ballots have already been cast for the 3 November election. Read more
Justin Trudeau: Canada-US border will stay closed until America gets COVID-19 under control (USAToday)
Don’t bet on the US-Canadian border reopening after the current closure agreement expires on Oct. 21.
In an interview Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his country is committed to keeping the border closed until the U.S. gets control of COVID-19.
“The U.S. is not in a place where we would feel comfortable reopening those borders,” he told the hosts of “Smart Start,” which airs on Canada’s Global Television Network. “We will continue to make sure that Canadian safety is top of mind when we move forward. We see the cases in the United States and elsewhere around the world, and we need to continue to keep these border controls in place.” Read more
John Legend dedicates ‘Never Break’ to wife Chrissy Teigen at BBMAs 2020 (PageSix)
John Legend dedicated an emotional Billboard Music Awards performance to his wife, Chrissy Teigen, weeks after the couple announced that she’d suffered a pregnancy loss.
Sitting behind the piano during Wednesday night’s show, Legend said, “This is for Chrissy,” before he sang the ballad “Never Break” from his 2020 album “Bigger Love.”
The powerful lyrics to Legend’s song include, “We will never break, built on a foundation, strong enough to stay, we will never break.” Read more
‘Super’ material raises hope of energy revolution (BBC)
Scientists have found the first material that displays a much sought-after property at room temperature.
It is superconducting, which means electrical current flows through it with perfect efficiency – with no energy wasted as heat.
At the moment, a lot of the energy we generate is lost because of electrical resistance, which is lost as heat.
So room temperature “superconducting” materials could revolutionise the electrical grid. Read more
Israel Adesanya becomes first MMA fighter to sign with PUMA (Guardian)
His pre-fight drama with Brazil’s Costa is ‘most-watched UFC face-off of all time’
The drama leading to the victory of Nigerian-born, New Zealand-based UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya against Brazil’s Paulo Costa in Abu Dhabi about two weeks ago has been adjudged the most-watched UFC face-off of all time.
The Brazilian threw a white belt at Adesanya during a staredown, mocking the Nigerian’s ground game; the champion caught it and whipped him back. It is now the most-watched UFC face-off of all time, revealed UFC president, Dana White. Read more
Daniel Wanjiru: London Marathon 2017 winner banned for doping (BBC)
Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru, winner of the 2017 London Marathon, has been banned from athletics until 2023 for doping.
Wanjiru was provisionally suspended in April but denied taking a prohibited substance and requested a tribunal.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has now confirmed the 28-year-old’s ban, in place until 8 December 2023.
Wanjiru’s management said they are “disappointed” by the decision and will consider an appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Read more
Rashford: Hungry children still worrying about next meal (BBC)
Hungry children are sitting in class worrying about what their younger siblings will eat at home later, says campaigning footballer Marcus Rashford.
Rashford, who prompted a Westminster government U-turn on free meals over the summer holidays, says some cannot focus due to rumbling stomachs.
Stepping up his child poverty campaign, he is urging UK ministers to offer free meals to 1.5 million more children.
Number 10 said it was not for schools to provide food during holidays.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters the government had already “taken action to make sure children don’t go hungry”. Read more
Sam Querrey, wife in hiding after Russia COVID-19 hospital warning (NYPost)
Mixing tennis with a global pandemic has just gotten stranger.
Amid quarantine bubbles and Novak Djokovic’s disastrous Adria Tour, the sport has endured a rocky ride in its bid to restart. However, Sam Querrey’s response after testing positive to COVID-19 takes the cake.
In a lengthy Twitter thread, New York Times tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg detailed the series of events that saw Querrey flee Russia on a private jet with his family after contracting coronavirus. Read more
Falcons shut down facility after reporting positive COVID-19 test (USAToday)
The Atlanta Falcons announced Thursday they are shutting down their practice facility due to a positive COVID-19 test.
“Out of an abundance of caution following one new positive test, we have made the decision to stop all in-person work at IBM Performance Field Thursday and will conduct all operations virtually,” the Falcons said in a statement. “This decision was made in consultation with the NFL and medical officials. The health and safety of our team is our highest priority.”
The Falcons are slated to play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Tennessee Titans recently had an outbreak that led to a 17-day stoppage. Read more
Shura Kitata on what it took to beat Eliud Kipchoge in the London Marathon (BBC)
What does it take to beat Eliud Kipchoge, the only man to ever run a marathon in under two hours?
Extreme training, talent and – in the case of London marathon champion Shura Kitata – a good breakfast.
Last year the Ethiopian finished fourth in the English capital, a race won by Kenya’s Kipchoge, with Kitata tweeting later that he only had fruit for breakfast and was running on empty – “I felt my stomach touching my back, [I was] super hungry” – after 35km.
This year, having learned from his mistake, he fuelled up before the race.
“I ate everything,” he told BBC Sport Africa. Read more
No vacation for NBA: League faces big questions (USAToday)
At this point, the NBA’s league office, team offices and players would like to take a vacation.
The NBA just concluded the 2019-20 season, which lasted an additional three months in a campus bubble after the league suspended operations for four months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, the NBA must address various questions. When will free agency start? What about the season? Will it take place in home arenas with or without fans? Read more