Nigeria crawling but we’re here to change that narrative, Tinubu tells Scholz (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, October 29, said his administration is determined to change the narrative about a weak and crawling economy by bringing about transformation to governance.
President Tinubu made the bold assertion during bilateral political talks with the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, and his entourage at State House, Abuja.
Tinubu and the German Chancellor, before addressing joint press conference, had engaged in three separate meetings, starting with a tete-a-tete, a bilateral political discussion, and concluded with a government-to-business round table. Read more
FG, Labour meet Monday to assess implementation of agreements (Tribune)
The federal government and the organised labour will meet on Monday, 30th October, to discuss the progress made so far in the 15 point Memorandum of Understanding signed which led to the suspension of the indefinite strike planned for October 3 by organised labour, NLC President said.
The meeting was at the behest of the office of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Joe Ajaero, at a briefing on Sunday in Abuja, said the meeting will appraise the progress made by the government in the last 30 days. Read more
Naira: Anxiety grows as nation’s currency tumbles (Sun)
All over social media, in the markets, commuter buses, among workers, and ordinary Nigerians and in conversations among kith and kin, there is lamentation. And it is all centred on the terrible financial situation of the nation.
Even the intellectuals and other elite are not immune from the effects of the devastating worsening impact of the United States dollar on the naira. The devastation saw the Nigerian currency hitting N1,200/$1 last week. The naira has also continued its free fall in value against all the major currencies and even the West African CFA, which was not so in the past.
Today, parents who are carrying the burden of school fees, particularly for overseas students; traders, commuters, workers professionals, importers, operators of various small businesses and the executives of big enterprises are angry and frustrated. People wring their hands and stare into emptiness, lost in thought as they brood over how they will survive the hard times occasioned by the continuing fall of the naira. Read more
Ogun police arrest two pupils for setting school on fire (Punch)
The Ogun State Police Command has said it arrested two minors for allegedly setting their school in Isheri-Olofin area of Ifo Local Government Area of the state on fire.
The spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Odutola noted that the minors gained access into the school, gathered books left behind by the teachers and set them on fire, an act which led to damage of the school books. Read more
Rivers assembly set on fire over threat to impeach Gov Fubara (Vanguard)
The hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been set ablaze by suspected political thugs in the state.
This is following a move by the house to commence an impeachment process on the Leader of the House, Hon. Edison Ehie, and the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara on Monday.
The arsonists had carried out the act at about 9:45pm, causing uneasy calm around the assembly complex where the State Police Command also stands.
A source said the legislature has concluded plans to impeach the duo on Monday at its resumed sitting following some undisclosed issues. Read more
Gunmen kidnap Catholic priest, 2 others in Taraba State (Channels)
Armed men suspected to be kidnappers have abducted one Rev. Fr Thaddeus Terhembe of Wukari Catholic Diocese in Taraba state.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday.
A press statement from the communication officer Rev Fr John Jerome of the Catholic Diocese of Wukari confirming the incident says he was abducted in his parish at Saint Ann’s Parish, Sarkin Kudu in the Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State. Read more
Gas Flare: Enugu puts out fire, vows to harness state’s gas potential (Guardian)
Men of the Enugu State Fire Service have successfully put out the gas flare that erupted during a borehole drilling activity at the Federal Housing Estate in Ugwogo Nike, Enugu State, as the state government restated its determinations to convert the state’s dormant gas and other mineral resources to productive assets.
This was even as the state government warned against drilling of boreholes without the authorisation of the State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change as well as other relevant government agencies.
This was made known by the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu during an inspection tour of the gas flare incident at Nike on Sunday. Read more
Bandits kill only teacher in Kaduna community (DailyTrust)
Bandits have killed the only teacher in Unguwan Dorowa Bakhira settlement under Maro community of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The gunmen also killed a couple during the raid which occurred in the wee hours of Sunday.
The primary school teacher identified as Mr Sunday Akorh was an indigene of Benue State.
Local sources told Daily Trust that nobody was kidnapped during the attack. Read more
Rapsody reveals her ‘‘special’’ new album is finished (HipHopDX)
Rapsody has revealed that her new album is ready to go, and fans couldn’t be more excited about the prospect.
On Thursday (October 26), the “Sojourner” rapper took to Instagram to post a teaser video narrated by her “BFF,” Darin Michelle, in which she sings the praises of the rhyme-spitter’s upcoming new work.
“I just listened to your album again on the way home from the Badu concert,” Michelle said in the video. “And I just — I just needed to say that that shit is so special. It’s so, so, so special. It is like your heart on wax, and I just wanted you to know how special it is. And that’s it.” Read more
More than 30 people killed in a multi-vehicle pileup on a highway in Egypt (France24)
The multi-car pileup, which set some vehicles ablaze, left at least 63 others injured, said the Health Ministry. Ambulances rushed to the scene of the crash on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road to transport the injured to nearby hospitals, it said.
Local media reported that the bus was on its way to Cairo when it hit the parked vehicle. Other cars slammed into the bus with some catching fire.
Footage circulating online showed many burned vehicles on the side of the road with firefighters extinguishing the fire. In one footage many vehicles were seen on fire with thick plumes of smoke billowing from them. Read more
Erdogan calls on Turks to protest for Palestine, says Israel must end Gaza strikes (NewArab)
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday called on Turks to take part in a “Great Palestine Rally” due to be held at Istanbul’s currently disused Ataturk Airport.
He called on Israel to “immediately stop this madness” and end its indiscriminate attacks on Gaza after Israeli forces intensified strikes on the Palestinian territory.
“The Israeli bombardments on Gaza intensified last night and once again targeted women, children and innocent civilians and worsened the ongoing humanitarian crisis,” Erdogan said on X, formerly Twitter. Read more
New details on death of ‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry released (TheBreakfastClub)
New information on the death of ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry has been released.
A law enforcement source told TMZ that numerous prescription drugs were found inside the late actor’s Los Angeles home at the time of his death on Saturday (October 28). Authorities reportedly found anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication and a drug for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which is often prescribed to people dealing with emphysema or chronic bronchitis.
TMZ initially reported that no illegal drugs were found at the home of Perry, 54, who dealt with substance abuse during his life. A toxicology exam will be performed by the Los Angeles County Coroner to determine whether drugs were in the actor’s system at the time of his death, however, results could take months. Read more
Duran Duran praise NI singer with ‘‘killer voice’’ after she appears on band’s new album (BelfastTelegraph)
Duran Duran have praised Northern Irish singer Rachael O’Connor’s “killer voice”.
Rachael, from Drumsurn, near Limavady, appears on their new Halloween album Danse Macabre, including new songs, spooky covers and reinterpretations of some of the band’s old material.
The Co Londonderry singer has been touring with Duran Duran for the past couple of years, singing to hundreds of thousands of people. Read more
Jason Statham reunites with Sylvester Stallone (DigitalSpy)
The Expendables franchise stars Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone are set to reunite for new action movie Levon’s Trade.
Directed by Suicide Squad‘s David Ayer, from a screenplay adapted by Stallone, the upcoming movie will star Fast & Furious star Statham in the titular role of Levon Cade (via Deadline)
Based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Dixon, Levon’s Trade will mark Stallone’s first screenplay since 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood and 2018’s Creed II. As the first of 11 books in Dixon’s Levon Cade thriller series, Stallone had previously developed the idea as a TV show under Balboa Productions. Read more
David Fincher hints at potential Social Network sequel about Mark Zuckerberg (People)
David Fincher seems to have mixed feelings about making a potential sequel to The Social Network.
Fincher, 61, recently spoke with The Guardian about his career and new movie with Michael Fassbender The Killer and fielded a question concerning his 2010 Academy Award-winning movie about the founding and early years of Facebook.
“Aaron [Sorkin, The Social Network‘s screenwriter] and I have talked about it, but, um… that’s a can of worms,” Fincher told the outlet when asked about the potential for a follow-up. Read more
I am happy at Napoli, insists Osimhen (Punch)
Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen, has played down speculation linking him with a move to English Premier League duo, Liverpool and Chelsea, insisting he is happy playing in the Serie A with Napoli.
The Italian champions were forced to fend off interest in their leading marksman throughout the summer transfer window after he scored a league-high 26 goals in 32 Serie A games last term.
Osimhen was believed to have been on the wish lists of Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, but Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis demanded more than £100m to offload the Nigeria international. Read more
Awoniyi: Why I left Liverpool after 6 years of ‘no action’ (ThisDay)
Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed why he left Liverpool after six years without playing competitive game for the Reds.
Speaking before his Nottingham Forest got beaten 3-0 at Anfield yesterday, the Super Eagles forward who is just returning from a groin injury admitted that after training with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, he realised he may not be able to displace any of the top stars for a place in Liverpool ‘s starting 1X.
This perhaps was responsible for why Liverpool transferred him to Union Berlin in a £6.5m permanent deal in July 2021, following a succession of loans in Germany, Holland and Belgium. Read more
Jurgen Klopp speaks out on Luiz Diaz’s “worrying situation” after parents’ kidnapping (Mirror)
Jurgen Klopp said the concerning situation involving Luis Diaz’s family was a “new experience he never needed”.
The Colombian was due to play for Liverpool when they take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, but has been left to deal with a family emergency after his parents were kidnapped by unidentified armed motorcyclists in Colombia on Saturday evening.
Police say they have rescued his mother from captors, however the whereabouts of his father remain unknown. Diaz has spoken with security forces who have been looking to locate his father. The incident occurred in Barrancas, La Guajira, and the Liverpool forward was duly left out of the contest at Anfield on Sunday. Read more
Man arrested over alleged racist abuse of player at Gillingham FC match (ITV)
A man has been arrested following a report of racist abuse against a Newport County striker at a Gillingham FC match.
A Gillingham fan appeared to abuse striker Omar Bogle as he celebrated scoring in the 20th minute.
In a statement, Kent police said a man in his 20s had been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and taken into police custody.
Gillingham FC have condemned the “racist gesture” and have initiated a lifetime ban for the fan involved. Read more
Brentford shock Chelsea to make Premier League history (SportsMole)
Chelsea’s revival came to a grinding halt in a 2-0 West London derby defeat to Brentford, who have become the first-ever visiting team to win each of their opening three Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team dominated the possession and shot counters, but Thomas Frank’s side defended admirably and drew first blood through Ethan Pinnock’s powerful header, before Bryan Mbeumo doubled the Bees’ tally with seconds remaining, making the Blues pay for their worrying profligacy.
With neither Enzo Fernandez nor Mykhaylo Mudryk making the hosts’ squad due to fresh knocks, the door swung open for Noni Madueke to make his first Premier League start, and the ex-PSV Eindhoven man almost justified Pochettino’s decision with just 10 minutes gone. Read more
Romelu Lukaku fired ominous warning ahead of Inter Milan return – “People don’t forget” (Mirror)
Massimo Moratti has warned Romelu Lukaku to be prepared for a backlash from Inter Milan fans as he prepares to face his former club with Roma.
Lukaku, who helped Inter win Serie A in 2021, returned to the San Siro on loan last season following an ill-fated £97.5million move to Chelsea. Despite an injury-hit campaign, his 14 goals in all competitions helped the Nerazzurri claim a top-four finish while also reaching the Champions League final.
Another season in Milan was a possibility, with negotiations taking place in the close-season, but the Belgian’s talks with Juventus prompted Inter to turn to other targets. Lukaku apologised to fans but with no success, and former Inter chairman Moratti has made no secret of what he anticipates as the former fan-favourite returns with Roma on Sunday. Read more