Two dead, houses burnt in Ikorodu clash (Guardian)
A communal clash between Yoruba indigenes and the Arewa community in Igbo-Olomu, a community in Isawo-Agric, Ikorodu, Lagos has left two dead, several injured and property worth millions of Naira razed in a deadly attack that started on Monday but came to a head on Thursday and yesterday.
Speaking with the president of the Igbo-Olomu central Community Development Association (CDA), Samson Oyeniran, he confirmed that trouble started brewing on Monday night when some Hausa and Yoruba youths had a clash that left some people injured and the police had to be called in to settle the matter.
“The Hausas have been terrorising us for a long time now but you know Yorubas are generally peaceful. So, we have been tolerating them for long. However, some cultists who belong to one Andora cult took matters into their hands and fought the Hausas and we had to call the police to quickly settle the matter. Read more
Exploded Lagos gas plant operated without planning permit – Investigation (Punch)
Lukman Kareem squirmed on his sickbed at Solad Hospital, Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos, unsure of which side of his aching body to lie on. When he eventually managed to raise his head, it was a sorry sight to behold. His face, back and arms smothered with burns.
The more he struggled to utter some words, the harder it was; he could barely recognise anyone around him.
The 48-year-old electrician was among eight persons who sustained injuries in the explosion that rocked Bestroof Gas Station on Cardoso Road, Baruwa, on Thursday.
The explosion left huge losses in its trail, claiming six lives and damaging 25 residential buildings, 15 shops, a school and a church. Read more
#ENDSARS protest in Lagos: Sanwo-Olu sues for patience, understanding (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to #ENDSARS protesters in Lagos on the need for patience and understanding inorder to arrive at logical conclusion of the grievances.
Sanwo-Olu, made the appeal in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso on Friday.
The statement read in part: “The state government has noted the protests against the reported highhandedness of the men of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS). We know how painful it is to be victims of police brutality. It is not good. Read more
Court recovers Oke-Osayintolu’s N45m house hijacked by ex-lover (Punch)
The Lagos State High Court in Lagos, on Friday, restored to the Director General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyitolu, a N45m house “forcibly taken” from him by one Ms Olaide Ibraheem, said to be his ex-lover.
The court, in a judgment by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, convicted Ibraheem, who is a director in Lagos State Office of Civic Engagement, of forgery.
Justice Ipaye imposed a fine of N750,000 on Ibraheem, in addition to ordering her to make restitution to Oke-Osanyintolu by returning the N45m property, identified as No. 1, Baba Yusuf Close, Alausa, Lagos. Read more
UNILAG gets computer research lab to develop prototypes (Vanguard)
The French Embassy in Nigeria on Friday donated a fabrication laboratory to the University of Lagos to drive innovation among students and staff.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the computer research laboratory has printing machines to produce objects.
The digital fabrication laboratory, which is linked to other laboratories across the world, will help Unilag staff and students to transform ideas into objects.
The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jerome Pasquier, who made the donation on behalf the French Government, described the donation as an excellent corporate project. Read more
Buhari finally reacts to #EndSARS protests (Guardian)
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said he met with the Inspector General of Police over the continued extrajudicial activities of the notorious police unit Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
“I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt,” Buhari tweeted.
“I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people,” he added. Read more
Ondo election: Police restrict vehicular movement (Punch)
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement from 11.59 p.m. on Friday, October 9, to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 in Ondo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, made this known in a press statement on Friday.
According to him, the order is part of efforts by the Force to ensure effective coordination of public order and safety during the gubernatorial election. Read more
Delta govt reaffirms commitment to peace in warring communities (Vanguard)
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Friday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that peace returned to warring communities in the state.
The governor gave the assurance when he received the report of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry into the disputed Okpe-Urhobo Forest Reserve from the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Tessy Diai at Government House, Asaba.
He urged communities with land disputes to exercise restraint in their disagreement, saying that “once lives are lost, they can’t be recovered”. Read more
Liverpool launches worldwide song contest to mark John Lennon’s 80th birthday (Metro)
The city of Liverpool will mark what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday by launching a worldwide contest to find another great songwriter. The city will be hosting the Liverpool International Song For Kindness Contest, which was announced on Friday October 9, the anniversary of Lennon’s birth. The winner will have no small task as the contest will seek to find an anthem that will follow the example of Lennon’s masterpiece Imagine. The city council has launched the contest in association with youth charity tuff.earth and the world-famous Cavern Club, and the search will take place across the next 11 months. Read more
Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia and Azerbaijan agree ceasefire (BBC)
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed a temporary ceasefire in the conflict in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the agreement just before 03:00 local time (01:00 BST), following 10 hours of talks in Moscow.
The two countries will now begin “substantive” talks, he said.
More than 300 people have died and thousands displaced since the latest violence in the long-running conflict broke out on 27 September. Read more
Celebs getting naked to beg for votes is yet another downfall of 2020 (NYPost)
On the fence about voting? Perhaps, like me, you were motivated to finally register because you’ve seen Kardashian family kast-off Scott Disick wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the word “Vote.” A powerful message. And for the low price of $129, you can purchase the sweatshirt from his clothing company, aptly named Talentless.
Not yet convinced that you should participate in our democracy? May I present his quasi sister-in-law Kylie Jenner and the skimpy bikini pic she posted, accompanied by the caption: “but are you registered to vote? … let’s make a plan to vote together.” Or there’s her sister Kendall Jenner who spoke with former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau on Instagram Live to weigh in on important issues I have come to know the model for, like voter suppression and the electoral college. Read more
Lebanon explosion: Deadly fuel tank blast rocks Beirut (BBC)
A fuel tank has exploded in a densely populated area of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, killing at least four people and injuring 20.
The blast occurred after the tank caught fire in Tariq-al-Jdide district. TV footage showed flames leaping up buildings in the area’s narrow streets.
There is no word on the cause of the fire. The rescue efforts are ongoing.
The blast caused panic in a city scarred by the explosion that killed 203 people in the port area in August. Read more
More humans born with an extra artery as part of ‘microevolution’ phenomenon (NYPost)
Humans are undergoing a “microevolution” resulting in babies being born without wisdom teeth and with an extra artery in their arm, according to Australian researchers.
The scientists believe humans are evolving faster than at any point in the past 250 years — with more babies coming out with shorter faces, smaller jaws and extra bones in their legs and feet.
The stunning findings were part of a study in the Journal of Anatomy.
The extra artery is a median artery that’s first formed in the womb and serves as the main vessel that supplies blood to the forearm and hand, according to Sky News. The median artery vanishes once the radial and ulnal arteries develop, though now one in three people keep it for life. Read more
Amazon unveils all-electric delivery van to help hit climate pledge (Metro)
Amazon has revealed the first look at its new all-electric delivery vans. The machines have been built in partnership with EV startup Rivian, and could be on the roads as soon as next year.
There will eventually be three different van models designed and built by Rivian.
The startup received a $700 million investment from Amazon last year. Inside are three different shelf levels and displays showing a 360-degree view outside courtesy of special cameras mounted on the van.
As you’d expect, the vans support Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, perhaps so delivery drivers have someone to talk to while making their rounds. Read more
Apple will extend free trials of Apple TV+ through February (NYPost)
Apple is extending the free trials of its Apple TV+ streaming service for users whose plans were set to expire in the next three months.
The iPhone maker gave out 12-month passes to its then-new streaming service to individuals who purchased Apple products last fall when it put out its new iPhones, iPads and Macs. But those users whose trials were going to run out between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31 will now see their service continue uninterrupted through February.
The tech giant made the decision because many Americans are still facing coronavirus-related restrictions as winter approaches, Apple told TechCrunch. Read more
Algeria defeat good test for Eagles – Rohr (Punch)
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has admitted that his team’s 1-0 defeat to African champions, Algeria, on Friday was a good test for his young side, Saturday PUNCH reports.
The Eagles lost 1-0 to the Fennecs at the Worthesee Stadium, Klagenfurt, Austria on Friday courtesy of Ramy Bensebaini’s fifth minute strike, but Rohr believes there were lots of positives from the defeat.
“This is a very good test for us,” Rohr said after the game on Friday via the Super Eagles Twitter handle.
“There are positives to pick from a tough game like this. Now we have to recover well and start to plan for the next game on Tuesday against another tough team.” Read more
Israel Adesanya is a perfect fighter, says UFC legend (Guardian)
UFC icon Georges St-Pierre has hailed Israel Adesanya as a ‘perfect fighter’ following the Nigerian’s emphatic victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 253. Adesanya has quickly become one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts and currently boasts a perfect 20-0 record, with nine of those wins coming inside the octagon.
Having picked apart Costa to retain his middleweight title at the end of September, there are talks of a potential superfight with Jon Jones following the pair’s nasty war of words over Twitter in recent weeks.
And while St-Pierre didn’t make a prediction for that dream bout, his praise of Adesanya might just give away who the Canadian would be rooting for. “(Israel Adesanya’s) amazing. He’s a perfect fighter,’ St-Pierre told ESPN. “We’re in the entertainment business, and our job is to entertain the audience, and he’s doing it very, very well.” Read more
French Open 2020: Novak Djokovic beats Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets to make final (BBC)
Top seed Novak Djokovic withstood a gutsy fightback from Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to set up a French Open final against long-time rival Rafael Nadal on Sunday.
Djokovic, 33, missed a match point in the third set before eventually winning 6-3 6-2 5-7 4-6 6-1 at Roland Garros.
The Serb could not take a second match point in what was the final game before cracking a forehand winner to seal it.
Nadal, who is going for a 13th title, beat Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman.
The top two seeds in the men’s draw will face each other for the 56th time in their careers – no two men have played each other more – and the ninth time in a Grand Slam final.
The match could also be pivotal in the long-running battle between Djokovic, Nadal and Swiss rival Roger Federer in determining which man finishes with the most Grand Slam titles. Read more
Luis Suarez claims Barcelona sold him because of friendship with Lionel Messi (Metro)
Luis Suarez believes his strong relationship with Lionel Messi was a factor behind Barcelona’s decision to sell him to Atletico Madrid this summer.
Atletico were able to sign Suarez for just €6 million (£5.5m) after Barcelona made it clear to the Uruguayan striker that he had no future at Camp Nou.
During his six years at the club, Suarez helped Barcelona win four league titles as well as the Champions League in his first season at the club. Read more
Queen’s Birthday Honours: Marcus Rashford becomes MBE (BBC)
England and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has become an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
The footballer, 22, campaigned for the government to allow about 1.3 million children to claim free school meal vouchers in England’s summer holidays during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rashford, who has asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend that scheme, said the MBE was a “nice moment”.Read more
Edouard Mendy eases Chelsea fears after injury during Senegal training (Metro)
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is reportedly ‘optimistic’ over his injury after he was forced to withdraw from Senegal’s squad this week.
The 28-year-old, who was signed for £22 million from Rennes last month, was immediately installed as Frank Lampard’s first-choice goalkeeper at Chelsea.
Mendy was handed his Premier League debut last weekend and kept a clean sheet in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace.
But Chelsea were handed a scare this week after Mendy suffered an injury during training on Wednesday. Read more
French Open 2020: Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek set for final duel (BBC)
The French Open will have a new women’s champion after American Sofia Kenin faces Polish teenager Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s final in Paris.
Fourth seed Kenin, 21, is favourite having already won the Australian Open this year for her maiden Grand Slam.
“I want to make the next step. I would love to take the title,” she said.
World number 54 Swiatek, the lowest-ranked woman finalist in 43 years, said: “I never would’ve thought I’m going to be in the final. It’s crazy.” Read more