War: Lagos suspends airlifting of Christian pilgrims to Israel (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government has suspended airlifting of the second batch of intending pilgrims to Israel due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Some Christians from the state had gone for pilgrimage in Jerusalem and another set of pilgrims were scheduled to be airlifted to Israel on Tuesday, October 10.
Over 1,000 people have been killed on both sides after Hamas’ Saturday attack and a reprisal by the Israeli forces. Read more
Fela Durotoye, 4 others make Tinubu’s media advisory team (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following men and women to serve in the Office of the President under the Media & Publicity Directorate with full respect for the tenets of Nigeria’s federal character principle and the supremacy of merit:
Mr. Fela Durotoye – Senior Special Assistant to the President (National Values & Social Justice)
Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo – Senior Special Assistant to the President (Public Engagement)
Mrs Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe – Senior Special Assistant to the President (Strategic Communications) Read more
Ladipo Market remains closed – Lagos (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has said that Ladipo Market has not been reopened, as it was yet to perfect some environmental and safety conditions, required before recommencing business activities.
Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who made the clarification on Monday, noted that the market remained closed because it observed that its management had not fully met stipulated mandatory safety and environmental measures earlier outlined by the authority.
According to Gbadegesin, “Our primary concern is the safety of the people and environmental well-being at marketplaces.
“Reopening is contingent upon strict adherence to the safety conditions set forth by LAWMA. It is imperative that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent any potential risks.” Read more
Group appeals judgement on tax condition for Lagos public school enrolment (Channels)
A non-governmental organisation, ISH-61 Human Rights and Social Justice Initiative, has approached the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division to test the decision of the State High Court which dismissed its suit challenging the Lagos State Government’s “policy” which makes parent/guardian’s tax payment or clearance a condition for children to access public primary and public junior secondary schools in the state.
The incorporated trustees of the NGO filed the notice of appeal through their lawyers, Oluwatosin Adegun and Oluyemi Fajuyitan for and on behalf of disadvantaged children in Lagos.
The Court of Appeal is however yet to fix a date for the hearing of the appeal. Read more
Why Tinubu, govs must appoint PWDs as ministers, commissioners, by NGO (Nation)
TAF Africa, an international non-governmental organization, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors, to consider appointments of People With Disabilities (PWDs) as ministers and commissioners, saying that a group that constitutes 35 million of the Nigerian population cannot be ignored.
The NGO, which is currently working to strengthen institutions on governance and rule of law for disability inclusion at the Grassroots, made the call in Kaduna on Monday when it took its advocacy to the Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board.
Leading the TAF Africa team, the programme manager, Olayemi Samuel said that TAF Africa was in Kaduna to seek partnership with the board on ensuring participation of PWDs in the electoral process, with a particular target on the grassroots. Read more
Bayelsa Poll: APC says no crack among party stalwart, insists on defeat of Diri (Guardian)
Ahead of November 11 governorship poll in Bayelsa, the All progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the notions held in certain quarters that there is a crack among the rank of chieftains of the party.
The Secretary, Media and Publicity Committee of the National Gubernatorial Campaign Council for the state, Hon. Yekini Nabena to disregard the claim by the ruling peoples democratic party (PDP) in the state that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, and 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, are working for Governor Douye Diri.
Nabena, who is a former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary said all suggestions of a crack in the camp of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa is a ruse. Read more
Patent medicine dealer arrested with guns, ammunition in Delta (Punch)
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a patent medicine dealer, Ebireri Morisson, of Oviorie community in Isiokolo, Ethiope East Local Government Area, for allegedly being in possession of guns and ammunition.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, DSP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri.
According to the statement, the 40-year-old patent medicine dealer was nabbed on October 7, 2023, “following credible information” which prompted the operatives to storm the community. Read more
Abiodun commiserates with family of Chris Ogunbanjo over demise of patriarch (Independent)
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has described the death of Chief Christopher Oladipupo Ogunbanjo as a great loss to the state, Nigeria, and humanity and the corporate world.
Prince Abiodun, while commiserating with the family of the late business tycoon, who passed on to glory on Saturday, said he was a worthy son of Ogun State and a great philanthropist, and a guru in the world of business, while alive.
The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, in Abeokuta on Sunday, added that Chief Ogunbanjo distinguished himself as a very cerebral corporate lawyer who combined the knowledge of law with entrepreneurial shrewdness. Read more
Greta Gerwig says she hid in the back of Barbie screenings during its opening weekend, teases new project (THR)
Greta Gerwig says the reception to her monster hit Barbie has been “the most thrilling thing” to experience.
Speaking at a special screen talk on Sunday at the BFI London Film Festival, where she received a rockstar welcome (as did her interviewee, Succession creator Jesse Armstrong), she said the film’s set had been “the most joyful” she’d ever been on. “So, I thought, if I can make a movie that is half as fun to watch as it was to make, I think maybe we’ve got a shot.”
However, Gerwig also admitted that despite loving the process of making the film, she still experienced huge amounts of self-doubt over her creative choices, citing the “I’m Just Ken” dance scene where the numerous Kens are fighting on the beach. “That sequence, in particular, was just filled with choices that thrilled me and made me so happy, but then I’d be driving home at the end of the day and thinking… ‘Oh no!’” Read more
Gabon’s coup leader Nguema appoints new parliament (France24)
Military and police chiefs joined forces on August 30 to carry out a bloodless coup widely backed by politicians, civil society and the public in general after more than years of 55 years of rule by the Bongo family.
The new regime has pledged to hold free elections and hand power back to civilians at a date due to be agreed at a “national dialogue”.
The military said it hopes elections will take place between April and June 2024. Read more
Spiral’s Chris Rock teams up with Steven Spielberg for Martin Luther King Jr biopic (DigitalSpy)
Chris Rock and Steven Spielberg are working together on a biopic of Martin Luther King Jr.
Variety reports that Spiral’s Rock is in final negotiations to direct and produce an adaptation of author Jonathan Eig’s biography “King: A Life”, with legendary Jurassic Park filmmaker Spielberg executive producing.
Born Michael King Jr, the political philosopher and activist became one of the leading figures of the civil rights movement, overseeing the famous Montgomery bus boycott among other protests before his assassination in 1968. Read more
Liberia: Cost of living and development, big election issues amid voter fatigue (AfricaNews)
After weeks of mobilization, the electoral campaign ended on October 8 in Liberia. Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday (oct. 10) to cast a ballot in a presidential and legislative elections.
19 candidates are vying to replace President George Weah, who is seeking a second 6-year term.
In a market in Monrovia’s West Point area, the cost of living and the economy were the primary concerns for these sellers. Read more
Exorcist Box Office: The Believer eyes $28m domestic opening, $47.1m globally (THR)
The Exorcist: Believer topped the Friday box office with $11.9 million, including $2.9 million in previews. At this pace, the R-rated horror pic should open to $28 million domestically, a tepid number considering the high price paid for rights to the series.
Globally, the film looks to open to $47.1 million for the weekend.
The David Gordon Green-directed horror pic hits theaters exactly 50 years after the first Exorcist opened and made cinema history. Directed by William Friedkin, the film was based on the book by William Peter Blatty and starred Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn. Read more
US moves warships closer to Israel after Hamas attack (BBC)
The US says it is moving an aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean and will also give Israel additional equipment and ammunition.
It follows the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which President Biden called an “unprecedented and appalling assault”.
A US National Security spokesperson said several US citizens were among the dead.
Israel says more than 700 people have been killed and 100 kidnapped. Read more
Terence Davies, award-winning film-maker, dies at 77 (Guardian)
Terence Davies, the film-maker regularly hailed by critics as among Britain’s greatest, has died aged 77.
The Liverpool-born director, perhaps best known for his semi-autobiographical study of working-class family life Distant Voices, Still Lives, starring Pete Postlethwaite, was working on a new project at the time of his illness and only two years ago released Benediction, starring Jack Lowden in the role of the war poet Siegfried Sassoon.
Davies was admired for his low-voltage, sensitive approach to presenting real-life drama, allowing actors to register small changes in emotion. Commenting on the trademark lyrical style and themes of his 2015 film Sunset Song, based on the first book of a Scottish trilogy set in the 1930s and by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, the film critic Jonathan Romney noted how it echoed the tone of his earlier Liverpudlian family drama from 1988. “The bleakness and the rapture are interwoven to altogether symphonic effect,” wrote Romney. Both films feature a violent father figure, shadows of Davies’s own father, who died when he was seven. Read more
Onuachu sad after Trabzonspor defeat (Punch)
Following Trabzonspor’s 1-0 defeat to Adana Demispor in the Turkish Super Lig, Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu has expressed his disappointment with the club’s style of play, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Despite Trabzonspor’s dominance, it was former Manchester United star Luis Nani’s solitary goal that settled the affair at the Yeni Adana Stadyumu.
The 29-year-old since joining the Turkish club on a season-long loan from Southampton has enjoyed a bright start to the season following a struggle at Saint Marys. Read more
Koundé in doubt for Clásico as Barca injury worries mount (ESPN)
Defender Jules Koundé is a major doubt to face Real Madrid after injuring his knee as Barcelona’s fitness problems continue to mount ahead of this month’s Clásico.
Koundé was forced off in the first half of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Granada and tests on Monday confirmed he has sprained ligaments in his knee.
Barça have not revealed how long he will be sidelined, but sources have told ESPN it’s likely to be around a month. The Catalan side are set to play LaLiga leaders Madrid on Oct. 28.
Coach Xavi Hernandez is already without Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, who all sat out the Granada game. Read more
FA deliver verdict on Arsenal vs Man City bust-up which left Erling Haaland furious (Mirror)
The FA will take no action against either Arsenal or Manchester City after players and staff became involved in a heated exchange after the Gunners’ 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
City full-back Kyle Walker – who was his side’s captain on the day – became involved in an altercation with the Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who used to work on the staff at City when Mikel Arteta was assistant manager to Pep Guardiola.
Walker was seen to dismiss Jover several times as he approached him, with the England defender initially declining the German’s offer of a handshake before turning to confront him. Read more
Erik ten Hag recalls Harry Maguire in 2 bold Man Utd changes for Brentford clash (Mirror)
Erik ten Hag has brought Harry Maguire back into the Manchester United starting XI for the must-win Premier League game against Brentford.
Maguire will make his first start in the Premier League this season at Old Trafford, having only played 90 minutes once for United this season, in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup last month. He starts in place of the injured Raphael Varane and alongside Jonny Evans in central defence, with Ten Hag making changes from the side which lost 3-2 to Galatasaray on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old England international was stripped of the captaincy by Ten Hag and has struggled for game time under the Dutchman. He resisted the allure of a summer transfer in order to fight for his place in the United team. Read more
Chelsea earn late draw against nine-player Man City (BBC)
Defending champions Chelsea scored deep into stoppage time to draw with Manchester City in the Women’s Super League after two costly dismissals for the home side.
Guro Reiten poked in from close range after a scramble in the box to make it 1-1 in the 96th minute to cancel out Chloe Kelly’s opener, after Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp had both been sent off for City.
It was a dramatic afternoon in Manchester in which Greenwood’s first-half sending off changed the course of a match that City had dominated at Joie Stadium. Read more
Qatar GP: FIA enforces 3 pit stop rule for race amid safety concerns over tyres (Sky)
The FIA has confirmed that all drivers will be obliged to make at least three pit stops during Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix amid “safety” concerns over tyre wear.
After tyre manufacturer Pirelli raised the alarm following Friday’s practice session, further analysis from Saturday’s 19-lap Sprint led the sport’s governing body to implement a limit of 18 laps for each stint, which means at least three pit stops will be required in the 57-lap contest.
The FIA said that three Safety Car interruptions – and consequent reduction of full-speed running – during the Sprint meant the data it planned to gather during the Sprint was “insufficient” in terms of offering a different conclusion to its previous analysis. Read more