Tinubu appoints SSA on disability matters (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Abba Isa to serve as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Disability Matters.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), the appointment came in the president’s determination to ensure that every segment of society is sufficiently catered to within the ambit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
The statement informed that Isa is a distinguished champion of persons with disabilities with over a decade of experience in local and international advocacy on matters concerning persons with disabilities. Read more
Deportation: 14,000 Nigerians lack identification cards — German Chancellor (Vanguard)
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has explained why no fewer than 14,000 Nigerians living in the country risk deportation.
Scholz said it was attributed to the spike in the number of Nigerians seeking asylum, with a great number of them without identification cards, adding that approximately 12,500 Nigerians were in a condition of tolerance in Germany as a result of the Nigerian government’s reluctance to admit people without the necessary identity documents.
Speaking during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday, Scholz said: “The current spike in Nigerians filing initial asylum claims in 2023 has sparked worries. Nearly 14,000 Nigerians might be deported, and the great majority of them do not have the necessary identification cards. Read more
Off-Cycle Elections: Military issues fresh warning to troublemakers (DailyTrust)
The military high command, on Thursday, declared that troops deployed for governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States would inflict injuries on anybody that attempts to disrupt the exercise.
It specifically said it was aware of plans by some individuals to dress in military uniform to disrupt the electoral processes in the three states on Saturday during the gubernatorial elections.
Addressing journalists at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, the Director of Media Operations, Edward Buba, said the military was determined to give the elections the seriousness it deserved. Read more
Motorists, commuters decry extortion on Lagos highways (Punch)
Motorists and commuters in Iyana-Ipaja, Alakuko and Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State have decried alleged incessant attacks and extortion by some suspected miscreants whenever their vehicles developed faults on the highway.
The motorists, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, noted that the miscreants are in the habit of extorting money from them, causing damage to vehicles, and in some instances, attacking them whenever their vehicles develop faults on the highway.
Some of the motorists who spoke with our correspondent said that rather than offering to help whenever their vehicles developed faults, these miscreants would ask them to pay for the faulty vehicle, often called “owo omotaku.” Read more
Fans hail actor Odunlade as he bags 1st international award (Leadership)
Fans and industry peers alike are showering Odunlade Adekola with heartfelt congratulations as the talented Nigerian actor recently added another feather to his cap.
The actor has clinched his very first international award.
The actor celebrated reaching a significant milestone by posting the good news on his Instagram page. Read more
First Lady enjoins military to tackle security challenges in Nigeria (Vanguard)
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday in Abuja, charged the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to fasten their belts in meeting up with the security challenges in the country.
The first lady gave this advice in her address, read by Hajia Nana Shettima, at the Defence Headquarters’ one-day Gender Mainstreaming Conference with the theme “building capacity through gender mainstreaming to meet security challenges”.
Oluremi, commending the leadership of the AFN for organising the programme, also acknowledged that the event was timely given several security challenges facing the country. Read more
IGP Egbetokun appoints Disu as Rivers CP, redeploys Emeka (Guardian)
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the appointment of Tunji Disu as the new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced Disu’s appointment in a statement on Thursday morning.
Adejobi in the statement also confirmed that IGP Egbetokun has ordered the redeployment of Nwonyi Emeka from his position as Rivers CP to the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Read more
Wike remains my principal, says Gov Fubara (Channels)
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday said his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike remains his principal.
The governor stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the rededication service of the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary that was equally attended by Wike. The event was held at the Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Hospital Road in the state capital.
He described the recent political crisis in the state as a thing of the past, calling again for peace in the oil-rich state. Fubara noted that Rivers State can if the actors and their supporters are peaceful. Read more
Lupita Nyong’o to exec produce Sudan drama Goodbye Julia (THR)
Lupita Nyong’o has boarded Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s feature debut, Goodbye Julia, as an executive producer.
The first-ever Sudanese feature to screen at the Cannes Film Festival was also selected by the African country to be its second-ever Academy Awards submission for best international feature film.
“Goodbye Julia is a powerful representation of the conflict happening in Sudan right now, which affects millions of lives across Eastern Africa. Mohamed Kordofani and the filmmakers present the issues in a beautiful, deeply personal way. I’m honored to lend my voice to help bring this film’s message to the world,” Nyong’o said in a statement on Wednesday. Read more
Madagascar: At least 16 injured in opposition protests as tensions rise ahead presidential (AfricaNews)
At least sixteen people were injured Wednesday in new demonstratons that turned violent at the Stade des Bareas Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital. Among the injured were four policemen.**The latest incident comes as Madagascar reels from tensions ahead of the November 16 presidential election.
Wednesday’s umpteenth march by the opposition coalition ‘Collectif des candidats’ saw the opposition lawmaker for Antananarivo’s fifth constituency, Fetra Ralam/boza/fimbolo/lona, arrested for questioning by the police.
The protests by the coalition of opposition candidates taking part in the upcoming elections, are being held to denounce what they have called “an illegitimate electoral process”. Read more
Actors celebrate deal to end long Hollywood strike (BBC)
US actors are expected to resume work after their union agreed a tentative deal with Hollywood studios to end a four-month strike.
Sag-Aftra reached agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers (AMPTP) in a unanimous vote.
The shutdown – combined with a separate writers’ strike – paralysed the entertainment industry and disrupted numerous major films and TV shows. Read more
Shania Twain’s Crew involved in highway crash (Billboard)
Members of the production crew who required medical attention were taken to nearby hospitals, a statement reads.
Members of Shania Twain’s entourage have been taken to hospital following a highway accident in the veteran’s artist’s homeland, Canada.
One bus and a truck shuttling crew members from Twain’s Queen of Me tour were caught in treacherous conditions on the road between Winnipeg and Saskatoon. Read more
Protests against copper mine deal turn deadly in Panama (CNN)
Anti-mining protests that have roiled Panama for the last two weeks turned deadly on Tuesday when a man allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators, according to police.
A chilling video posted by bystanders on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed a disheveled elderly man apparently frustrated with the logjam trying to force the protestors to remove a barrier blocking the Pan American highway about 50 miles south of the capital, before pulling out a pistol and opening fire. Panama’s National Police later said they arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of the shooting.
The unusual scene of violence is the latest flashpoint in some of the largest protests to hit the Central American nation since Panamanians flooded the streets en masse to demonstrate against the dictatorship of Manuel Noriega in the 1980s. Read more
Apple’s $14b EU tax battle takes new turn as court calls for re-examination (National)
The EU’s top court adviser has put the spotlight on the legal battle between Apple and the bloc over a €13 billion ($14 billion) tax payment, suggesting a previous ruling in favour of Apple may have been flawed.
Advocate General Giovanni Pitruzzella at the EU Court of Justice, or CJEU, called for a new examination of the technology company’s victory in a lower court regarding its tax arrangements in Ireland.
Apple’s initial win came in 2020 when the EU’s General Court supported Apple’s challenge against the European Commission’s 2016 decision. Read more
World’s newest island emerges after undersea volcano erupts near Japan (ITV)
The eruption of an undersea volcano off the coast of Japan has provided a rare view of the birth of a tiny new island – though experts say it may not last long.
The unnamed undersea volcano, located about half a mile off the southern coast of Iwo Jima, which Japan calls Ioto, started its latest series of eruptions on October 21.
Within ten days, volcanic ash and rocks piled up on the shallow seabed, its tip rising above the sea surface. Read more
2013 FIFA U-17 WC: Golden Eaglets cry over unfulfilled house gifts (Nation)
Veteran youth coach Manu Garba MFR/OON is seeking the intervention of Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu as well as the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, to ensure that house gifts expressly pledged to players and officials of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team by the then state’s Governor Senator Liyel Imoke, be finally honoured.
It is almost 10 years exactly when Senator Imoke, during a reception inside the state’s council chamber in Calabar on Friday, 15th November 2013, promised house gifts to the 21 players and 10 officials of the victorious team for doing the country proud at the United Arab Emirates-hosted event.
“We want to make an investment with you in property,” Senator Imoke said in front of camera and in the presence of the then Minister of Youth & Sports Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, and chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by the then President, Aminu Maigari. Read more
Nigeria get another chance for Paris 2024 table tennis team event ticket (Vanguard)
Nigeria get another chance for Paris 2024 table tennis team event ticket
Nigeria will have another opportunity to qualify for the team event of table tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The opportunity emerged after the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) confirmed Nigeria alongside 39 others for the 2024 World Team Championships set to be held in Busan, South Korea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian side led by Quadri Aruna lost the continent’s sole ticket to Egypt at the 2023 African Championships in Tunis. Read more
England squad: Chelsea duo Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling snubbed by Gareth Southgate (Standard)
Cole Palmer has been overlooked for an England call-up, despite his impressive form for Chelsea.
The 21-year-old’s club-mate Raheem Sterling does not earn a recall either, as Gareth Southgate continues to ignore his former favourite.
Palmer has made a quick impact since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer, scoring three times in the top-flight and bagging four assists in total, but Southgate sticks with the tried and trusted names for the games against Malta and North Macedonia. Read more
Mourinho and Sarri exchange jibes ahead of Rome derby in Serie A (DailyMail)
Despite Roma and Lazio being involved in European competition, much of the attention this week has been focused on Sunday´s derby match in Serie A and the barbs have been flying.
After Lazio beat Feyenoord 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, coach Maurizio Sarri said his team had gone to “war” against the Dutch side, while he deemed Roma´s Europa League game against Slavia Prague later on Thursday to be just a “friendly match.”
Roma´s highly successful coach José Mourinho claimed he wasn’t bothered by the comments but then made a thinly-veiled attack on Sarri, who won the Serie A title with Juventus in 2020 and the Europa League with Chelsea the previous year. Read more
GM committed only to Andretti F1 entry bid (RN365)
General Motors has insisted it is committed to Andretti Global’s F1 entry bid and dismissed suggestions it could partner with an existing team instead.
The American brand partnered with Michael Andretti’s prospective entry to form Andretti Cadillac Racing after fears from F1’s incumbent teams that Andretti Global failed to bring the value needed to join the grid.
ACR has since passed the first two phases of the FIA’s entry process after the governing body launched an Expressions of Interest before the current campaign. Read more
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo takes courtside seat after dunk, ejection (UPI)
Giannis Antetokounmpo gave several fans a rare experience, momentarily taking a courtside seat after he was ejected for a stare down during a Milwaukee Bucks win over the Detroit Pistons.
The sequence occurred in the third quarter of the 120-118 victory Wednesday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo totaled 15 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks before his early exit.
“It’s an emotional game,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin told reporters, when asked about Antetokounmpo’s ejection. “He made a phenomenal play. It’s exciting and emotional.” Read more