Nollywood Actor Saidi Balogun opens up about daughter’s death (Punch)
A popular Nollywood actor and producer, Saidi Balogun, has expressed appreciation for the kindness shown to his family following the demise of his daughter Zeenat.
PUNCH Online reports that the actor announced the passing of his daughter on Saturday, October 5, via his verified Instagram account.
In a post on his Instagram page on Sunday, Balogun posted a statement signed by his son, Jamal Balogun, saying that the family is overwhelmed by the heartfelt messages and calls. Read more
Banky W’s wife, Adesua Etomi, announces second pregnancy (Tribune)
In a heartwarming announcement, Nigerian actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington has taken to social media to reveal the joyful news of her pregnancy.
In an elegant photograph shared with her followers, the glowing actress is seen cradling her baby bump, dressed in a stunning, figure-hugging orange ensemble.
The caption accompanying the post reads: “First, we had each other, then we had your brother, then God sent you and now? NOW, we have everything.” Read more
Tinubu billed to inaugurate NUPENG’s 7-storey new national headquarters (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu is billed to inaugurate the newly completed national headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) known as NUPENG Tower on December 4, 2024.
In a letter by the General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the union made a “passionate and special request” for the president’s presence at the ceremony.
President Tinubu is also expected to be decorated and honoured with the Grand Patron of NUPENG, according to a letter submitted to the Presidency earlier this year, seeking an audience with the president. Read more
Strike: NAFDAC refutes claims of workers’ demands (Nation)
The director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has dismissed the claims made by aggrieved workers as the basis for their industrial action, describing them as “untrue.”
She emphasised that while the management has been attentive to the workers’ welfare, it is limited by its mandate in matters such as promotions and certain remunerations.
In a statement on Monday by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the DG however reiterated her commitment to the workers’ welfare. Read more
Ondo: ‘It’s Greek gift,’ PDP faults Aiyedatiwa’s N73,000 minimum wage offer (DailyTrust)
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has faulted the newly approved minimum wage for civil servants by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa had on Saturday during his governorship campaign flag-off held in Ondo city, announced the new salary wage of N73,000 for government workers in the state.
The amount was a top-up of the N70,000 minimum wage agreed for workers between the federal government and organised labour in September. Read more
6 dead, 5 injured in Ibadan accident (Channels)
Six persons, all adult males, have been confirmed dead in a multiple road accident involving five vehicles in the Amuloko area of Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The Oyo State Road Safety Command confirmed the incident on Monday in a report signed by the Sector Public Education Officer, Mayowa Idewo, and made available to Channels Television.
The report noted that six adult male lost their lives while five adult males sustained varying degrees of injury. Read more
PEN Nigeria, others rally support for female children as UN marks Day Of the Girl Child (Independent)
The Nigerian Centre of PEN International (PEN Nigeria) in conjunction with the Department of English Education of Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Oto/Ijanikin, on Friday, marked the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child with a call on stakeholders to show more interest in supporting the girl child to attain their full potential in life.
The celebration hosted by LASUED International Secondary School, Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos, had as its theme, “Girls’ Vision for the Future.”
Speaking on the theme of this year, the President of PEN Nigeria, Dr. Folu Agoi, explained that the essence of the worldwide celebration is to draw attention to the challenges, especially the socioeconomic, cultural and criminal tendencies that militate against the development of the girl child to attain their full potential and work hard at eliminating them. Read more
Panic as 2-storey building collapses in Lagos (Punch)
A two-storey building has collapsed on Amusu Street, in the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos State.
The incident happened in the early hours of Monday.
As seen in a video trending online, the building caved in as residents nearby scampered for safety.
The Head, Public Affairs Unit, LASEMA, Mr Nosa Okunbor, who confirmed that there was no casualty in the building collapse, reports News Agency of Nigeria. Read more
Kemi Badenoch faces backlash for ‘stigmatising’ autism (Independent)
Conservative leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has been accused of “stigmatising” autism after she endorsed a report that suggested people with the condition get “economic advantages and protections”.
The pamphlet, which Ms Badenoch launched, also claimed that they receive “better treatment or equipment at school”.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Robert Buckland hit out, saying the document should not be “stigmatising or lumping certain categories in with each other”. Read more
Nicole Kidman slammed for ‘rudely’ shoving Salma Hayek as she’s caught on camera (Mirror)
Salma Hayek and Nicole Kidman joined each other on the red carpet at the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week
Nicole Kidman has been slammed by fans for “rudely” shoving Salma Hayek as she was caught on camera.
The pair of actresses were caught in an awkward moment at the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week which saw Nicole walk off as pal Katy Perry watched on. Nicole, 57, and Salma, 58 were standing in front of the photographers along with Katy when the altercation emerged. Read more
Perfume bottle which poisoned Novichok victim could have killed ‘thousands’ (Metro)
The perfume bottle carrying a Russian nerve agent that fatally poisoned a British woman in Salisbury contained ‘enough poison to kill thousands of people’.
An inquiry into Dawn Sturgess’ death heard how she had ‘unwittingly’ applied the perfume, which contained Novichok, to her own skin.
The 2018 Salisbury poisonings made headlines around the world after multiple people were poisoned with Novichok. Read more
Body of Scottish independence champion Alex Salmond soon to be flown home from North Macedonia (ABC)
The body of Alex Salmond, Scotland’s former First Minister who died during a conference in North Macedonia, will soon be returned to Scotland by special flight, an official said Monday.
Salmond, who as leader of the Scottish National Party took Scotland up to the brink of independence in a 2014 referendum, died suddenly Saturday at the lake resort of Ohrid aged 69.
He had been a panelist at a forum and collapsed during a lunch event after apparently suffering a massive heart attack. Read more
North Korea preparing for detonation of roads near DMZ: Seoul (UPI)
North Korea is preparing to set off explosions on roads connected to South Korea, Seoul’s military said Monday, days after Pyongyang announced it would cut off all inter-Korean links.
A spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at a press briefing that the North has been installing screens along the road in preparation for detonations.
“Preparations are being made to blow up the road,” JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said. “It is possible [for the explosions] to take place as early as today.” Read more
Nobel economics prize goes to global inequality researchers (NBC)
Three U.S.-based academics won the 2024 Nobel economics prize on Monday for their research into why global inequality persists, especially in countries dogged by corruption and dictatorship.
Simon Johnson and James Robinson, both British-American, and Turkish-American Daron Acemoglu were commended for their work on “how institutions are formed and affect prosperity,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.
“Reducing the vast differences in income between countries is one of our time’s greatest challenges. The laureates have demonstrated the importance of societal institutions for achieving this,” said Jakob Svensson, Chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences. Read more
Israeli shelling of Gaza school kills at least 22 (BBC)
An Israeli attack on a school used to shelter displaced Palestinians has killed at least 22 people, including 15 children, in central Gaza, officials say.
Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency said the site in Nuseirat camp was struck by a volley of artillery on Sunday, killing entire families and wounding dozens more.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it was looking into the reports. Read more
Super Eagles returning to Nigeria after Libya stalemate (DailyTrust)
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are currently on their way back to the country following the stalemate in Libya.
Daily Trust had reported how the Nigerian stars have been stranded in the North African Country for over 16 hours.
Following Nigeria’s defeat of Libya in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, a return leg for the ongoing AFCON 2025 Qualifier was fixed for Benghazi, Libya, on Tuesday. Read more
Ex-Green Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, dies at 77 (Punch)
Former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, is dead.
Fregene’s death was confirmed by ex-international and close friend, Segun Odegbami, on Sunday.
Odegbami said the Nigerian football legend died after a protected illness in the presence of his wife, Tina, and two of his children. Read more
Junto Nakatani knocks out Petch Sor Chitpattana to retain WBC bantamweight world title in Tokyo (SkySports)
Junto Nakatani retained his WBC bantamweight world title with a brutal knockout victory over Petch Sor Chitpattana.
The 26-year-old star thrilled his home crowd in Tokyo by improving his professional record to 29-0, with a 22nd win by knockout.
Chitpattana was beaten for just the second time in 78 professional bouts, with Japanese star Takuma Inoue the only other fighter to have defeated him, in 2018. Read more
Legal complaint filed against Fifa’s ‘abuse of dominance’ (BBC)
The top European leagues and players’ union Fifpro have filed a legal complaint against Fifa with the European Commission over what they claim is an “abuse of dominance” by world football’s governing body.
The European Leagues, which represents 39 leagues – including the Premier League – and 1,130 clubs across 33 countries, claim, along with the European branch of Fifpro, that Fifa has abused its role under European competition law when it comes to the international fixture calendar.
The Spanish La Liga is not a member of the European Leagues but is joining the action. Read more
Nick Kyrgios vows to ‘‘shut up’’ doubters after December comeback (StraitsTimes)
Fiery Nick Kyrgios plans to make a comeback at Abu Dhabi in December, with his goal to win a Grand Slam and “shut up” those who doubt him.
The former world No. 13 is on the comeback trail after having played just one ATP Tour singles match in two years following serious knee, foot and wrist injuries.
He has hinted at retirement several times, but told News Corp’s Code Sports on Oct 14 that he would return for the World Tennis League event in December before a tilt at his home Australian Open in January. Read more
Meet Samson Dauda, first Nigerian athlete to win Mr Olympia (Vanguard)
Nigerian-born United Kingdom (UK) bobybuilder, Samson Dauda has claimed the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
Dauda won the competition over the weekend at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, United States (US).
The victory has seen him emerge as the first athlete of Nigerian origin to achieve the feat in the history of the sport, after securing the third position last year. Read more