*Plane Carrying🛩 188 People Crashes💥 After Take-Off*

A passenger plane carrying 188 people has crashed into the sea off Jakarta.

Flight JT610 lost contact with the ground 13 minutes after take-off, The Guardian reports.

“It has been confirmed that it has crashed,” Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for the country’s search and rescue agency, said on Monday.

The jet was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which can carry up to 200 passengers.

A search and rescue effort has been launched for the plane, which departed Jakarta about 6.20am lpcal time on Monday.

It was scheduled to land at Pangkal Pinang at 7.20am.

Wreckage had been found near where the plane lost contact with air traffic officials on the ground, said Muhmmad Syaugi, the head of the search and rescue agency.

“We don’t know yet whether there are any survivors,” Syaugi told a news conference. “We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm.”

Indonesia’s disaster agency spokesman posted video of some debris on Twitter.

A vessel traffic officer, Suyadi, told the Jakarta Post that at 6.45am he received a report from a tugboat that had identified a downed plane.

“At 7:15am the tugboat reported it had approached the site and the crew saw the debris of a plane,” Suyadi said.

*💸Minimum Wage: Labour Holds🚷 Nationwide Mass Protest👊 Tomorrow*

Ahead of November 6 nationwide strike to compel government to peg a new minimum wage at N30,000, organized labour will tomorrow hold mass protest across the country as part of sensitization of workers and Nigerians for the planned industrial action.

This came as organized labour urged workers not to be deterred by the government’s threat of “no work, no pay” as strike had always complied with legal requirements.

Already, leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC and United Labour Congress of Nigeria, TUC, have begun massive mobilisation of members nationwide and their civil society allies, ahead of not only tomorrow’s protest, but also for the nationwide strike on November 6.

*Bakassi Refugees👀 Yet to Settle, 12 years After:🗣 Rep Essien Ayi*

The member representing Bakassi/Calabar South/Akpabuyo federal constituency, Hon. Essien Ayi, has said that Bakassi returnees, whose ancestral homes were ceded to Cameroon, twelve years after were still occupying primary school, IDP camp in Bakassi, Cross River State.

Hon Ayi told journalists on Saturday that dozens of Bakassi people have passed on due to terrible conditions they were subjected to.

He said nobody fought Bakassi issue more than himself, recalling that in 2004, he moved his first motion in the National Assembly, which was the stopping of the ceding of Bakassi. This motion generated so much heat and attracted international attention, he said.

Hon Ayi maintained that because of that motion, the ceding of Bakassi was delayed for two years, but it was eventually ceded in 2006 amid tears by the people of Bakassi. “The day they handed Bakassi to Cameroon, I was there, I saw people crying; these are the people we speak the same dialects” he said.

Regrettably, he noted that the Bakassi that was ceded did not have the domestication of the National Assembly as stated by the Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution that said before any part of the country is ceded, it must have the domestication of the National Assembly, “That alone was enough to impeach the then President Obasanjo if we were to be in advance country” he stated.

Consequently, he pointed out that after the ceding he moved a motion for the speedy re-settlement of the people.

*Buhari Reacts😔 to Tony Anenih’s⚰ Death*

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Anthony Anenih. 
Anenih passed away on Sunday at the age of 85.

A statement signed by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and sent to DAILY POST, read: “President Muhammadu Buhari extends heartfelt condolences to the Anenih family on the death of its beloved patriarch and elder statesman, Chief Anthony Anenih.

“President Buhari also commiserates with the government and people of Edo State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the passing of their illustrious son and former Chairman, Board of Trustees.

“As a frontline figure in the annals of our country’s political history, the President attests that Chief Anenih lived a life of service, as State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), chieftain of the PDP, and a former Minister of Works.

“President Buhari affirms that across the political spectrum of Nigeria, Chief Anenih was known for his strong views on issues pertaining to the unity and stability of the nation.

“The President prays almighty God to grant Chief Anenih’s soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn the octogenarian.”

*Bishop Oyedepo🔊 Reveals Sponsors of ☠Killer Herdsmen*

The Bishop of Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, yesterday said the inability of the government to arrest killer herdsmen in some part of the Middle Belt zone was because the killers were agents of the government.

Speaking in Ota, Ogun State, at the Church’s Sunday Service titled ‘Covenant Day of Settlement and Thanksgiving’, the clergyman stated that it was absurd for the government to fail in arresting some self-confessed killer herders in Jos, Plateau State.

Oyedepo said: “Help me ask them how many mosques have been destroyed by these people? You can also ask them how many of those who have destroyed the church has ever been caught? How many of the destroyed churches has government ever added a dime to rebuild?

“I have said it, let us remove the mask from the masquerade and nobody will fear it anymore. Government is part of this thing; you don’t need to go to school to know that.

“If people claimed responsibilities to the killings in Jos and were not arrested, the question is who is to arrest them? Is it the citizens or government? It’s the government, but they cannot arrest them because they are their agents.”

While stating that every leader is a caretaker and God remains the creator and owner of every nation, including Nigeria, he added that Nigeria would have peace when they understand that God is in control of everything, including the land.

“When a caretaker starts behaving like a landlord he will be removed. God is the permanent landlord of the earth.

“Too many arrogant foes who pose to own this nation, be warned because the day of God’s judgement is here.

“Those who sponsor and perpetrate killings and also offer covering for killers to keep killing, God will lead them to rest. God will give us peace in this country by all means.

“God enthrones kings and removes kings,” he said.

*Far-Right Leader Bolsonaro Wins✌ Brazil Presidential Race*

Jair Bolsonaro, a brash far-right congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil’s old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America’s largest nation on Sunday as voters looked past warnings that he would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil.

The former army captain, who cast himself as a political outsider despite a 27-year career in Congress, became the latest world leader to rise to power by mixing tough, often violent talk with hard-right positions. His victory reflected widespread anger at the political class after years of corruption, an economy that has struggled to recover after a punishing recession and a surge in violence.

*Far-Right Leader Bolsonaro Wins✌ Brazil Presidential Race*

Jair Bolsonaro, a brash far-right congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil’s old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America’s largest nation on Sunday as voters looked past warnings that he would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil.

The former army captain, who cast himself as a political outsider despite a 27-year career in Congress, became the latest world leader to rise to power by mixing tough, often violent talk with hard-right positions. His victory reflected widespread anger at the political class after years of corruption, an economy that has struggled to recover after a punishing recession and a surge in violence.

*🇮🇩Indonesia: Aircraft🛫 Carrying 188 Crashes 💣After Take-off*

A Lion Air Boeing 737 passenger aircraft crashed soon after it took off from Indonesian capital Jakarta. The Flight JT-610 was bound for Pangkal Pinang. Reports said it lost contact with the ground just a few minutes after take off. The 188 passengers onboard, included 1 infant and 2 babies, two pilots and five cabin crew. There isn't much clarity about survivors yet.

The flight took off from Jakarta at 6:20 local time on Monday morning, and was due to reach its destination in one hour. Soon after the tragedy, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, Indonesia's disaster agency's head, posted images of debris and personal belongings that came from the aircraft. He also shared a video that showed debris floating in the water. The aircraft was a new one.

*Israeli 🇮🇱Strike 'Kills Gaza Youths Planting Bomb'💣*

Three Palestinian youths have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the border area between Israel and Gaza, Palestinian officials say. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says boys aged between 12 and 14 died near the town of Khan Younis. Israel says the Palestinians were trying to plant an explosive device near the border fence in southern Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza have been protesting weekly along the border with Israel since March.

*Leicester City Owner Among 5⃣ Dead in Helicopter🚁 Crash💥*

The owner of Leicester City FC died when his helicopter crashed outside the stadium, the club has confirmed. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger were killed when the aircraft crashed at about 20:30 BST on Saturday. Witnesses said the helicopter just cleared the King Power Stadium before it spiralled out of control and crashed in a fireball. Thousands of bouquets and scarves have already been left outside the ground.

*IA82*: *Israeli 🇮🇱Strike 'Kills Gaza Youths Planting Bomb'💣*

📰
Three Palestinian youths have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the border area between Israel and Gaza, Palestinian officials say. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says boys aged between 12 and 14 died near the town of Khan Younis. Israel says the Palestinians were trying to plant an explosive device near the border fence in southern Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza have been protesting weekly along the border with Israel since March.

*Ex-Bangladesh🇧🇩 PM Khaleda Zia Gets7⃣ Years in Jail in Corruption Case*

A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia to another seven years in prison on corruption charges that her supporters say are politically motivated. A judge in the capital Dhaka found her guilty of graft charges linked to the misappropriation of 31.5 million taka ($375,000) set aside for a charity. Zia has been in prison since February when she was sentenced to five years for embezzling funds for an orphanage.

*5⃣-Star Barca🔷 Thrash Sorry Real Madrid👊

Luis Suarez hit a hat-trick as Julen Lopetegui's dismal Real Madrid reign appeared to near its end in a 5-1 Clasico humiliation at the hands of Barcelona.

Former Spain boss Lopetegui was said to be on the brink of the sack after losing to Levante last week and he cut a disheartened figure on the Camp Nou touchline as Madrid were dismantled in his 14th game in charge.

The irrepressible Suarez led Barca, who were rampant even without Lionel Messi and capitalised on their rivals' failings to move back to the top of LaLiga.

Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring for the champions and Suarez doubled their advantage in a devastating first-half showing, with Marcelo's response shortly after the restart merely a small bump in the road.

Suarez executed a magnificent header and then a gorgeous dinked finish, before Arturo Vidal added the fifth to prompt a party in the stands as Lopetegui, whose side remain ninth, shuffled towards the exit door.

*Martial⚡ Nets Beauty as Man Utd♦ Edge Everton

Anthony Martial starred as Manchester United overcame a late scare to edge Everton 2-1 at Old Trafford and give Jose Mourinho a much-needed second win in eight matches.

Having reportedly rejected United's initial offer of a new contract, Martial ensured the week ended with the focus firmly on his talents as he created United's first and scored the second in a scintillating display.

The 22-year-old won the penalty that Paul Pogba converted at the second attempt in the 27th minute before lashing home what proved the winner just after half-time.

Chris Smalling, on his 300th United appearance, made their task more difficult than it should have been when his rash challenge allowed Gylfi Sigurdsson to halve the deficit from the spot, but the hosts held firm to quickly move on from their limp Champions League loss to Juventus in midweek.

*Crystal Palace Ends❌ Arsenal's Winning Run✌

Luka Milivojevic twice held his nerve from the penalty spot as Granit Xhaka went from hero to zero in Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

The Palace captain was denied from 12 yards by Jordan Pickford in last weekend's defeat at Everton but stepped up to put Roy Hodgson's struggling side ahead in first-half stoppage time.

Wayne Hennessey could only touch Xhaka's venomous free-kick into the top corner six minutes after the restart and the Palace goalkeeper just failed to prevent Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from turning home his ninth of the season at the back post.

The ball was turned Aubameyang's way when Alexandre Lacazette clearly handled a right-wing corner, meaning there was a sense of justice being done when Xhaka - playing in an unfamiliar left-back role - crudely brought down Wilfried Zaha and Milivojevic denied Arsenal a 12th consecutive win.

*Chelsea🔵 Hit 4⃣ Past Burnley

Chelsea maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season as Alvaro Morata, Ross Barkley and Willian scored in a 4-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday.

The Blues made light work of Burnley in Eden Hazard's absence – the Belgian missing with a back problem – as a devastating attacking display saw off the Clarets and moved Maurizio Sarri's side up to second in the table, two points behind leaders Liverpool.

Barkley's deft pass in the 22nd minute set Morata up for Chelsea’s opener and the England international scored in his third consecutive Premier League game 12 minutes into the second half to put the game beyond Sean Dyche's side.

Willian added a third after 62 minutes with a wonderful finish from distance and Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored his fourth in two games as Chelsea cruised to a victory that leaves Burnley languishing in 15th.

*Mourinho👔 Compares Lukaku Goals to Ketchup😂*

Jose Mourinho says waiting for Romelu Lukaku to end his goal drought for Manchester United is like getting ketchup out of a bottle.

The Belgian striker last found the net in a 2-1 win over Watford in September - his fourth of the season - and his run of eight games without a goal has coincided with a difficult spell for United.

But the Red Devils boss is not worried about Lukaku's form, citing the words of former United star Cristiano Ronaldo as the reason to keep faith in the attacker.

"I think one of the best scorers in football had funny words about it," he told Sky Sports. "It was when Cristiano Ronaldo was speaking about the ketchup bottle and when you [shake it]. The goals are coming and coming and coming.

"I believe with Lukaku that this will happen, but the reality is that in this moment it's not happening.

"There's been lots of matches in which he's not scored a goal, and not just scoring but also the performances, the happiness in the performances, I think is the problem.

"But he's a good player, a good boy, and I think the best way to do it is to just keep working and the moment will arrive."

*Leicester City Owner Feared😱 Dead in Helicopter Crash💥*

Leicester City owner and chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is feared dead after his helicopter crashed on Saturday night outside of the King Power Stadium.

The crash happened shortly after Leicester's draw with West Ham, at 8:30pm UK time. Emergency services were quickly on the scene after witnesses saw the craft go into a spin after taking off.

The BBC is reporting that the owner, his daughter, two pilots and one other unknown person were in the helicopter at the time of the crash. No confirmation has been given of if anyone survived the incident.

“We are assisting Leicestershire Police and the emergency services in dealing with a major incident at King Power Stadium," a Leicester City spokesman said in a club statement. "The club will issue a more detailed statement once further information has been established."

Srivaddhanaprabha, who bought Leicester City in 2010, is hugely popular at the club having funded the Foxes through their fairy tale Premier League success in 2015-16, when they were 5,000-1 to win the title at the start of the season.

*Ramaphosa Vows ✋ Govt Will Boost 👍 Township Economies*

President Cyril Ramaphosa says his government plans on boosting township economies by bringing more investment.

On Saturday morning Ramaphosa walked through Soweto with investors, as part of the activities of a three-day investment summit conference taking place in Sandton.

Ramaphosa walked through Soweto to showcase the potential for investment in the township.

Traders on the side of the road showcased their handmade crafts as supporters followed the president through the streets of Soweto.

Ramaphosa says Soweto’s economic growth will increase.

“Every year they receive more than almost 400,000 tourists who come to visit here. We want to increase that exponentially. Today we are showcasing this place.”

*Kaduna Govt🚷 Relaxes Curfew in ⛓State Capital, Environs*

The Kaduna State Government has relaxed the curfew in Kaduna metropolis and environs efective from tomorrow, Monday.

Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, in a statement, explained that “From tomorrow, Monday, 29th October 2018, the curfew is relaxed from 6am to 5pm, daily. Residents of Kaduna metropolis, Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru, and Kateri now join the people of Kachi in having free movement during daytime hours.

“Banks and markets are expected to reopen and deliver services as usual. The Kaduna State Government has also requested the airlines and the Nigerian Railway Corporation to promptly resume normal services to Kaduna.

“Nighttime curfew hours will continue to be enforced from 5pm to 6am, until further notice.

“The Kaduna State Government urges residents to remain peaceful, law-abiding and vigilant.”

*Don’t Allow Your🙅‍♂️ Ambition Push Nigeria into Chaos, 🔊PDP Warns Buhari*

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow his re-election bid to push the nation into a state of lawlessness.

The party also counselled the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu not to succumb to pressure to manipulate the electoral process in favour of President Buhari, saying doing so will birth a crisis capable of destabilizing the nation.

In a statement issued by the party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Sunday, the PDP warned handlers of the President to play by the rules even as it called on Nigerians to checkmate them “before it is too late.”

The statement read: “PDP’s fresh caution to INEC chairman is predicated on an alleged secret meeting he held with President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, at the Presidential villa last Friday.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow his re-election bid to push the nation into a state of lawlessness.

The party also counselled the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu not to succumb to pressure to manipulate the electoral process in favour of President Buhari, saying doing so will birth a crisis capable of destabilizing the nation.

In a statement issued by the party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Sunday, the PDP warned handlers of the President to play by the rules even as it called on Nigerians to checkmate them “before it is too late.”

The statement read: “PDP’s fresh caution to INEC chairman is predicated on an alleged secret meeting he held with President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, at the Presidential villa last Friday.

*Zimbabwe Calls for SA to Invest💰 in Its Privatisation Drive*

In an interview with Business Day, Ncube assured SA investors that they are welcome in his country, and that reforms he is implementing will bear fruit.

"We are open for business to SA investors," he said. "This is why we are talking about the 'One Stop Shop' under the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Authority, which will fast-track all the necessary work for international investors."

Among Ncube's plans is the privatisation of some parastatals, including the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Agribank and the People’s Own Savings Bank, mobile operator NetOne, fixed-line operator TelOne, fuel company Petrotrade, Allied Timbers, and the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe.

“We also want to raise money out of privatisation," he said. “Some of these valuations will be more clear when they go to the market. We know that there is value in them, we also know that it will be a process of further empowering Zimbabweans, crowding in foreign direct investment and local investment.

“We want them [state companies] to privatise, list on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange or the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and deepen capital markets."

*Furious Zanu PF😤 Threatens Chamisa ⛓Arrest Over Treasonous🎉 Inauguration*

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Nelson Chamisa on Saturday “installed” the 40 year-old lawyer and minister of religion as president of Zimbabwe, two months after President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared by the Constitutional Court as winner of the country’s July 30 presidential election.

MDC vice president Morgen Komichi declared Chamisa “duly bestowed as a president of Zimbabwe” before a packed sports stadium in Harare’s Highfield high-density suburb where the party was holding its 19th anniversary.
The move infuriated the ruling Zanu PF party, which described Chamisa’s inauguration as treasonous, noting that Mnangagwa was the democratically-elected president of Zimbabwe.

In a unanimous ruling in August, nine judges of the Constitutional Court led by Chief Justice Malaba said Chamisa failed to prove allegations of electoral fraud in the presidential election.

Section 94 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution stipulates that persons elected as president and vice-presidents assume office when they take, before the Chief Justice or the next most senior judge available, the oaths of president and vice-president on the ninth day after they are declared to be elected; or in the event of a challenge to the validity of their election, within 48 hours after the Constitutional Court has declared them to be the winners. Mnangagwa was inaugurated in line with these provisions of the Constitution.

*⚰Zuba Killings: Army🤐 Lied to Nigerians – Shi’ites*

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, has stated that the Nigerian army lied to the public in a bid to justify its killing of some members of the sect during a mourning procession in Zuba district of the FCT.

Members of sect, otherwise known as Shi’ites, said this in a statement sent to DAILY POST on Sunday by their spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, in Abuja.

Recall that the army had accused the mourners of establishing an illegal roadblock, denying motorists free passage, pelting troops with stones and other dangerous items, and also attempting to overrun and cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting to Kaduna from Abuja.

While denying the claims of the army, Musa insisted that the mourners were peaceful and unarmed and had also marched for 10 kilometers before their encounter with the troops.

He also said there were photographs and video evidence in possession of the sect which debunked the claims by the army.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a false, unsubstantiated and mischievous press statement by the Nigerian army, signed by one Major General JAMES MYAM, the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison to justify the bestiality they meted the innocent, unarmed members of the Islamic Movement yesterday, while carrying out their solemn religious duty of Arbaeen mourning procession at Zuba.

“We categorically refute the storyline of the Nigerian Army. These age long worn-out malevolent storylines are no longer being believed by members of the public because over time, the Islamic Movement has convincingly demonstrated its peaceful disposition while conducting its religious obligations, even in the face of extreme official persecution."

*NLC, TUC Begin🚷 Strike Mobilisation🗓 Wednesday*

The Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress will begin a nationwide mobilisation in preparation for the strike which is set for November 6, 2018

The President of the Trade Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the strike will go as planned should the government refuse to peg the minimum wage at N30,000.

Kaigama said the devaluation of the naira coupled with the high inflation rate had made life unbearable for Nigerian workers.

He said, “We are going to have a nationwide mobilisation on October 31 which is Tuesday across all 36 states and Abuja. Then we will be in Lagos to review our strategy and if there is no positive response by November 6, we will resume our strike.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had said last Thursday that N30,000 as minimum wage for civil servants was not feasible.

*Ekiti Endured 4⃣ Wasted Years Under😒 Fayose: Anglican Bishop*

The Bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Omotunde, has stated that Ekiti State witnessed regression under the administration of former Governor Ayo Fayose.

Omotunde described the tenure of Fayose as “four wasted years in which life became unbearable for the people and in which hunger ravaged the land without any concrete effort to alleviate people’s poverty.”

According to him, “the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had a golden chance to make a difference in the lives of Ekiti residents but abused the opportunity to the extent that the people became slaves under them.”

The clergyman warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to learn from the mistakes of the immediate past government and never disappoint the teeming masses looking up to it for good governance and redemption.

Omotunde stated this in his sermon on Sunday during a thanksgiving service held in honour of the new Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, at the Emmanuel Anglican Cathedral, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti.

*Akufo-Addo Attends G-20 Confab, OECD Forum*

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Ghana on Saturday, 27 October 2018, to participate in the conference on the G-20 Compact with Africa, taking place in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, between 29 and 31 October.

On his way, the president made a stopover at Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, to confer with his Ivorian counterpart, President Alassane Ouattara, on bilateral and regional issues.

The Compact with Africa (CwA) was initiated in 2017, under the German G20 Presidency, to promote private investment in Africa, including in infrastructure.

The 2018 Conference is bringing together reform-minded African countries, international organisations and bilateral partners from G20 and beyond to co-ordinate country-specific reform agendas, support respective policy measures and advertise investment opportunities to private investors.

*Mangudya Insists🗣 That RBZ is Not Involved🙅‍♂️ in Forex Black💸*

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has insisted that the RBZ is not involved in the foreign currency black market despite the suspension of four senior directors. The directors, Norman Mataruka (banks supervision), Azvinandava Saburi (financial markets), Mirirai Chiremba (financial intelligence) and Gresham Muradzikwa (security) were suspended following allegations by short-lived Chairperson of the Ministry of Finance’s Communications Task Force, Acie Lumumba using Faebook live video.. Mangudya insisted that the central bank had investigated the same allegations before and found no evidence.

Speaking to The Standard, Mangudya said,

"This issue was raised in many fora (before) and last time we gave them information. So, the same issues are being raised and we thought the best way was not to continue giving reports but to have the audit and oversight committee investigate the team…Last time, we did do some investigations and they showed us that there was nothing like that and we discussed it with the former Finance minister (Patrick Chinamasa) many times and sometimes gave evidence…I still stand by that comment that the Reserve Bank is not involved in the parallel market…“Our audit committee, which is independent, is looking at that matter, but we don’t have any foreign currency, which is missing at the bank.

However, Mirirai Chiremba who is the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) was previously suspended back in 2007 by Gideon Gono after he allegedly exposed the RBZ’s role in purchasing foreign currency on the black market.

*We Are Working on Fixing Drug Shortages: Mnangagwa*

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that his administration is working on fixing the shortage of essential drugs and medicines.

Writing in his weekly column in the Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said,

"This week we will host the Vice-President of India. India is a key drug supplier to us. Government hopes to take full advantage of this fraternal visit to explore possibilities on pharmaceutical supplies on the back of government-to-government arrangements. Likewise, we will engage other governments with supply capacity at good value for money. Our scope of engagement with friendly governments will go beyond drug imports…We will explore ways to reboot our capacity for the local production of essential drugs as before.

"In the immediate and interim, we must use our national drug store facility, NatPharm, which is the least encumbered, as our vehicle for placing fresh orders for medicines, while we tackle the legacy debt. Where foreign drug suppliers have local agents who may be incapacitated to import for reasons already cited, some arrangements may have to be reached with NatPharm so we move speedily to plug the import gap."

*Buhari Will Defeat Atiku in Adamawa, Says Ahmed Lawan*

A political group, Operation Deliver Your Unit (ODYU), says President Muhammadu Buhari will defeat Atiku Abubakar, an Adamawa indigene and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State.

The group vowed to work for Buhari's victory on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election.

ODYU, believed to have been founded by the Crown Prince of Yola Emirate and Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mohammed Barkindo, has strategically constituted supporters in all the 2,609 polling units in the state.

Barkindo's support for Buhari is also aimed at challenging the ambition of Atiku, who is also the Wazirin Adamawa (number two man in the Adamawa Emirate).

*Ghana Beacon of Stability, Democracy 💪 — AU Report 📝*

A Report by the African Union on Ghana’s structural vulnerability and resilience assessment has established that Ghana has the lowest level of per capita in violence in Africa and stands as a beacon of stability and democracy.

According to the report, it was also found out that the policies being implemented by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration had created confidence in the socio-economic space.

Again, the policies had helped the government to make great strides in gender equality in appointments, especially to key positions, the report added.

The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Stability, Ambassador Smail Chergui, made this known when he presented a copy of the report on “Ghana’s Structural Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment” to President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House last Wednesday.

He explained that the report was compiled following a joint action by the commission and the Ghana government.

*Former SA 🇿🇦 President FW De Klerk Hospitalised 🏥*

Former South African President FW de Klerk has been hospitalised.

While the exact details surrounding his condition are still sketchy, his foundation says the 82- year-old was admitted on Friday at the Panorama Hospital in Cape Town.

De Klerk was the last apartheid-era president of South Africa before serving as deputy president from 1994 to 1996.

It’s understood he was taken in after experiencing a condition known as pneumothorax which occurs when there is an abnormal collection of air in the chest, leading to lung dysfunction.

The De Klerk Foundation says the former politician underwent a successful treatment on Saturday morning and is expected to be discharged from hospital next week.

*Brazil's Bolsonaro👔 Poised to Win💪 Presidency in Dramatic👊 Swing Right*

Brazilians fed up with corruption and rising crime are expected to elect former army captain turned politician Jair Bolsonaro as their president as voting begins on Sunday in a turbulent swing to the right in the world’s fourth largest democracy.

Bolsonaro’s sudden rise was propelled by the rejection of the leftist Workers Party (PT) that ran Brazil for 13 of the last 15 years and was ousted two years ago in the midst of the country’s worst recession and biggest graft and bribery scandal.

His leftist rival Fernando Haddad, standing in for the jailed PT founder and former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been trailing Bolsonaro since the first round vote three weeks ago.

But final opinion polls on Saturday showing Haddad gaining momentum and endorsements from leading legal figures in Brazil’s unprecedented fight against political corruption have raised hopes among his supporters that he can pull off what would be a stunning upset win.

*Thai Leicester City Owner, 4⃣ Others, Were On Crashed🚁 Helicopter*

Leicester City soccer club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, a Thai tycoon, was among five people who were in a helicopter which crashed in a ball of flames after a Premier League match on Saturday.

Also on board were one of Vichai’s two daughters, two pilots and a fifth person whose identity was not immediately known. There were no confirmed details on whether anyone on board survived.

In Thailand, officials at King Power said they could not yet comment on the crash or say whether Vichai had been aboard when it spiralled out of control and crashed around an hour after the game. The club has not commented on that publicly.

The helicopter crashed just yards from the pitch in the club’s car park. Team manager Claude Puel was not on the helicopter.

*Iran's Khamenei 🔉Calls for Fight Against👊 Enemy 'Infiltration'*

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Sunday for the stepping up of efforts to fight enemy “infiltration” in a speech to officials in charge of cyber defence.

Iranian officials have long warned about Western cultural influences through entertainment, social media and the Internet as a threat against Islamic and revolutionary values.

A decade ago, Iran’s nuclear programme was hit by Stuxnet, a virus which was deployed by U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies against a uranium enrichment facility.

Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran’s civil defence agency, said on Sunday that Iran had recently neutralised a new version of Stuxnet.

*Russia Says Preparing Answers to U.S. Questions on Arms Control🤝 Pact*

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday that Moscow has started preparing answers to the questions related to arms control pact delivered by U.S. officials.

“Just a week ago, a couple of days ahead of the announcement of the (U.S.) aim to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, Americans via their embassy in Moscow sent the Russian foreign ministry an extensive list of questions which are a concern to them,” Lavrov said.

President Donald Trump said on Oct. 20 that Washington planned to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty which Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, and Ronald Reagan had signed in 1987.

*Pakistan Rejects Reports Of Israeli Aircraft Landing In Islamabad*

Pakistan President Arif Alvi today ruled out establishing any kind of relations with Israel as he strongly rejected reports that an Israeli aircraft carrying some officials landed in Islamabad and took off after several hours at the airport.

Israeli journalist Avi Scharf on October 25 tweeted that an Israeli business jet flew from Tel Aviv to Islamabad where it was on the ground for 10 hours, before flying back to Tel Aviv.

Social media users flayed the Pakistan government with the Opposition also joining in to demand an explanation about the "secret Israeli mission".

*Sri Lanka Crisis 🏼Worsens as Ex-Minister Arjuna Ranatunga's Guard Opens Fire, Wounding 3*

The security guard of a minister in the sacked Sri Lankan government opened fire at an office on Sunday wounding three people, worsening a constitutional crisis in the island nation days after the president ousted the prime minister and appointed a new one.

Police said the guard began shooting as Arjuna Ranatunga, petroleum minister in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, tried to enter his office at the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corp.

Wickremesinghe maintains he is still prime minister. The guard had been arrested and an investigation has been launched.

*All Jews Must Die: Pittsburgh👀 Suspect's Last Words🗣 Before Shooting*

The shooter in Saturday's deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, identified by officials as local resident Robert Bowers, is to face federal charges that carry the death penalty. 
Here is what is known so far about the suspect, who reportedly yelled "All Jews must die!" as he launched his attack, killing 11 people and wounding six more.

The suspect is in "fair condition" with multiple gunshot wounds, and is being treated at Allegheny General Hospital.

Bowers, reportedly 46 years old, appears to have no past criminal record, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation official said he was not previously known to law enforcement.

*Sri Lanka Speaker Recognises Ranil Wickremesinghe As Prime Minister*

Sri Lanka's speaker of parliament Sunday recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's lawful prime minister, three days after his sacking by the president threw the island into constitutional chaos.

Wickremesinghe says his shock dismissal on Friday was illegal and ignored a deadline to vacate the official residence Sunday -- instead holding crisis meetings with allies to gather support.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said Wickremesinghe's request to retain the security and privileges of prime minister was fair until another candidate could prove a majority in parliament.

*A Category 5 Hurricane 🌪 Wiped an Entire Hawaiian Island Off the Map❗*

Hawaii's East Island is no longer on the map.

The island, located about 550 miles northwest of Honolulu, is part of a chain of small island groups in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. When the chain was swept by powerful storm surges from Hurricane Walaka earlier this month, East Island was submerged.

The island was uninhabited, but scientists are worried because it was a refuge for two of the most endangered animals in the world: the Hawaiian green sea turtle and the Hawaiian monk seal.

Almost 96% of Hawaii's green turtle population travels to the island chain, known as the French Frigate Shoals, for safe nesting during their breeding season, according to Chip Fletcher, an earth science professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

"As we moved around the island this past July, every single step we had to be careful, because there was evidence of turtle nesting," Fletcher told CNN. "But, thankfully, most of the eggs would have hatched and the hatchlings gone, by the time the hurricane hit."

The Hawaiian monk seals -- there's only about 1,400 of them left in the world -- spend most of their time on the island lying under the sun and resting on its beaches. Fletcher says they're usually able to navigate their way around during storms like this one. "So we have some reason to be optimistic that it wasn't totally devastating," he said. "But the final assessment will rest with the biologists."

*Trump Fears Florida Wipeout

👀*

The White House is planning a political rescue mission in Florida, fearing a wipeout in a key swing state next month that could damage President Donald Trump’s reelection hopes.

Trump is expected to visit the state at least twice, according to two people familiar with the plans. Visits from several Cabinet members are likely, as well. Presidential text messages are being sent to Floridians who still haven’t cast their absentee ballots. And discussions are underway about blanketing the state with robocalls from Trump.

On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway were in the state in support of gubernatorial hopeful Ron DeSantis and Senate candidate Rick Scott, both of whom are close to Trump. Later in the day, the president raised money for Republican House candidate Ross Spano, who's facing an unexpectedly tough challenge in what's been a reliably red district.

Behind the scenes, Trump aides have been in contact with top Florida Republicans on a near daily basis, and people close to the president concede that they are worried.

“It is both my hope and my expectation that the president will be in Florida so much between now and the election that Floridians will be hearing ‘Hail to the Chief' in their dreams,” said Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally who’s been in touch with the president.

*Mansion Murders: Man Convicted 🔨 in Washington DC Killings👀*

A man has been convicted for the 2015 murders of four people inside a Washington DC mansion that shocked residents of the nation's capitol.

Police believe the victims - Savvas and Amy Savopoulos, their 10-year-old son Philip and housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa - were tortured inside the family's $4.5m (£2.9m) home in Washington's upscale Woodley Park neighbourhood.

During the six-week trial, more than 60 witnesses were called to testify, including experts that said that Wint's DNA was found on pizza as well as other items inside the home, including a knife.

Prosecutors say that Wint, who had previously been employed as a welder at a company owned by Savopolous - had fallen on hard times, which motivated him to kidnap the family and demand a $40,000 ransom.

According to expert testimony, Wint, who was arrested nearly a week after the attack, used his mobile phone to search online: "How to beat a lie detector test" and "10 hideout cities for fugitives".

*Man and Woman Fall to Death from Yosemite National Park Cliff❗*

Officials in California's Yosemite National Park are investigating the deaths of two people who fell from a popular lookout on Wednesday.

A park spokesman said the bodies of a man and woman were spotted by a tourist beneath Taft Point, which rises about 3,000 ft (900m) above the valley floor.

Taft Point, a promontory at elevation 7,500 ft (2.3km), features breathtaking views of Yosemite Falls and El Capitan - the famous granite rock that is popular amongst rock climbers.

"There were at least three or four different brides and grooms up there doing their post-wedding photos, so it's definitely not an uncommon thing to see up there," he told CNN, after asking the internet to help him locate the couple that he photographed on 6 October.

Potter, and fellow extreme athlete Graham Hunt, were wearing wingsuits - skin tight suits with batwing sleeves and a flap between their legs to help them glide - when they jumped from the point.

*Khashoggi Fiancee Snubs Trump Invitation ✉ to White House*

The fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi says she has declined an invitation to the White House by US President Donald Trump accusing him of not being sincere about investigating the killing.

In a New York Times column earlier this month, Ms Cengiz said that if Mr Trump made "a genuine contribution to the efforts to reveal what happened inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul that day, I will consider accepting his invitation".

While Germany was the first Western country saying it would halt all arms exports to the Gulf nation, France has branded Berlin's move as "demagoguery".

In a tearful television interview on Friday, Ms Cengiz recounted the day her fiance vanished, saying she would never have let her partner enter the consulate if she had thought that the "Saudi Arabia authorities would hatch a plot" to kill him.

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is now saying that Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated", and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Riyadh to admit who ordered the killing and where the body is.

*Ethiopia Appoints Its First Female President*

Ethiopia's parliament has appointed the country's first female president, Sahle-Work Zewde, in a move hailed as setting a new standard for women in the East African nation, the Prime Minister's chief of staff announced Thursday.

"In a patriarchal society such as ours, the appointment of a female head of state not only sets the standard for the future but also normalises women as decision-makers in public life," tweeted Fitsum Arega, the top aide to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who leads Ethiopia's government and policy.

Sahle-Work's appointment comes amid a Cabinet reshuffle and radical political reforms by Abiy, who took office in April and, at 41, is Africa's youngest leader.

Abiy last week cut the country's ministerial roster to 20 and handed half the positions to women, including a female defense minister, another first for the nation.

He has freed many jailed journalists, bloggers and political prisoners arrested by previous administrations, along with honoring an agreement that ended a 20-year bloody border war with neighboring Eritrea.

*Israel's Netanyahu Meets 🤝 Sultan Qaboos in Surprise Trip ✈ to Oman*

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made an unannounced trip to Oman, according to his office, in an apparent sign of warming ties between the two countries.

Netanyahu and his wife Sara were joined by Mossad intelligence chief Yossi Cohen, who has reportedly been responsible for clandestine talks with Gulf governments, and National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat.

The Israeli delegation reportedly flew to Oman on Thursday and returned to Israel on Friday.

Marking what was the first visit by an Israeli leader to the sultanate in over two decades, Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Friday that the visit came at the invitation of Sultan Qaboos and followed "lengthy contacts between the two countries".

A joint statement said the two sides "discussed ways to advance the Middle East peace process" and "a number of issues of mutual interest to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East".

Oman and Israel do not have diplomatic relations.

The last Israeli leader to visit Oman was Shimon Peres in 1996.

: Using someone?*

is it okay to use someone you don't love or is it a bad thing that you are doing?

If this person is willing to be used, knowing that you don't love him/her, what you are doing isn't bad. If you are manipulating this person by pretending to love him/her, then your actions certainly aren't exemplary. Remember the golden rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you!

*Rebels Kill⚰ 11, Abduct 15 in DR Congo:Security sources*

Rebels killed at least 11 people and abducted 15 others, including 10 children, in an overnight raid near Beni, near DR Congo's eastern border with Uganda, security sources said Sunday.

Police recovered the bodies of 11 civilians killed in the town of Matete north of Beni, he said, adding that the missing children were from five to 10 years old, Beni police chief Colonel Safari Kazingufu told AFP.

The attack, thought to have been carried out by members of the Ugandan Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), had targeted Beni, the regional army spokesman Captain Mak Hazukay told AFP.

"We repulsed the attack but unfortunately, there were deaths among the civilians and soldiers," he said, without specifying how many soldiers had been killed.

One local resident told AFP he had seen the bodies of two uniformed men at the site of the fighting.

Earlier, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO told AFP they had been involved in an exchange of fire with suspected rebels near Beni.

*17 Dead⚰ in Taiwan Rail Crash🚄 as Train Flips💥 Over*

At least 17 people have died after a train derailed and flipped over in Taiwan Sunday, authorities said.

The Taiwan Railways Administration confirmed the toll and said more than 70 people had also been injured in the accident in northeastern Yilan county.

At least five carriages had flipped over and were lying on their side, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Images from the site showed the high-speed Puyuma Express train completely derailed and lying zig-zagged across the track.

Taiwan authorities said the accident had happened at 4:50 pm local time (0850 GMT) with no cause yet given.

The National Fire Agency said there had been 310 people on board the service en route to the southern city of Taitung.

*Rebels Kill⚰ 11, Abduct 15 in 🇨🇩DR Congo:🔊 Security sources*

Rebels killed at least 11 people and abducted 15 others, including 10 children, in an overnight raid near Beni, near DR Congo's eastern border with Uganda, security sources said Sunday.

Police recovered the bodies of 11 civilians killed in the town of Matete north of Beni, he said, adding that the missing children were from five to 10 years old, Beni police chief Colonel Safari Kazingufu told AFP.

The attack, thought to have been carried out by members of the Ugandan Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), had targeted Beni, the regional army spokesman Captain Mak Hazukay told AFP.

"We repulsed the attack but unfortunately, there were deaths among the civilians and soldiers," he said, without specifying how many soldiers had been killed.

One local resident told AFP he had seen the bodies of two uniformed men at the site of the fighting.

Earlier, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO told AFP they had been involved in an exchange of fire with suspected rebels near Beni.

*17 Dead⚰ in Taiwan Rail Crash🚄 as Train Flips💥 Over*

At least 17 people have died after a train derailed and flipped over in Taiwan Sunday, authorities said.

The Taiwan Railways Administration confirmed the toll and said more than 70 people had also been injured in the accident in northeastern Yilan county.

At least five carriages had flipped over and were lying on their side, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Images from the site showed the high-speed Puyuma Express train completely derailed and lying zig-zagged across the track.

Taiwan authorities said the accident had happened at 4:50 pm local time (0850 GMT) with no cause yet given.

The National Fire Agency said there had been 310 people on board the service en route to the southern city of Taitung.

Barcelona Can Cope Without Messi -Pique*

*
Gerard Pique acknowledged the absence of Lionel Messi will be a blow but insisted Barcelona can cope without their superstar captain.

Messi will miss three weeks with a fractured arm after suffering the injury in Barca's 4-2 win over Sevilla in Saturday's top-of-the-table La Liga clash.

After setting up Barca team-mate Philippe Coutinho and scoring himself, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi landed heavily on his right arm before leaving the field in the first half at Camp Nou.

Messi will sit out next weekend's Clasico against Real Madrid, as well as Barca's Champions League fixtures against Inter.

But Pique believes there is enough cover in the side to come out on top even without the Argentine playmaker in the side.

"Psychologically we know that when he is there we are stronger but we cannot allow his absence to affect us," Barca centre-back Pique said.

"It makes a big difference to have or not to have him but we have enough cover so as not to worry about whether he is there or not."

Thierry Henry⭐ Beaten in Monaco Bow*

*
Thierry Henry's first game in charge of Monaco ended in a 2-1 defeat as Strasbourg profited from a Seydou Sy goalkeeping howler and a Samuel Grandsir red card.

Henry replaced Leonardo Jardim seven days ago after Monaco picked up just six points from their opening nine matches, but their display in Alsace showed no signs of an instant improvement despite the former France star's arrival.

It took the home side 17 minutes to move ahead, but they relied on a woeful error from Sy, who allowed Adrien Thomasson's header to squirm out of his arms and into the net despite it looking like a routine save.

The visitors then lost Radamel Falcao to a muscular injury just before half-time.

But Monaco's biggest blow came in the 66th minute when Grandsir – introduced as a substitute just one minute and 51 seconds earlier – was shown a straight red card for a high foot on Anthony Goncalves.

Lebo Mothiba effectively wrapped things up six minutes from time, racing clear and chipping a clever finish over the approaching Sy.

Barcelona Can Cope Without Messi -Pique*

*
Gerard Pique acknowledged the absence of Lionel Messi will be a blow but insisted Barcelona can cope without their superstar captain.

Messi will miss three weeks with a fractured arm after suffering the injury in Barca's 4-2 win over Sevilla in Saturday's top-of-the-table La Liga clash.

After setting up Barca team-mate Philippe Coutinho and scoring himself, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi landed heavily on his right arm before leaving the field in the first half at Camp Nou.

Messi will sit out next weekend's Clasico against Real Madrid, as well as Barca's Champions League fixtures against Inter.

But Pique believes there is enough cover in the side to come out on top even without the Argentine playmaker in the side.

"Psychologically we know that when he is there we are stronger but we cannot allow his absence to affect us," Barca centre-back Pique said.

"It makes a big difference to have or not to have him but we have enough cover so as not to worry about whether he is there or not."

*Messi Injured But Barca Reclaim 🔝 Spot

Lionel Messi was substituted with an arm injury that makes him a doubt for next weekend's Clasico but the Barcelona captain inspired a 4-2 home win against Sevilla to send his side top of LaLiga.

Philippe Coutinho scored from Messi's pass in the second minute to get Barca off to a flying start at Camp Nou on Saturday and the Argentina superstar soon doubled the lead.

But Messi had to be substituted having hurt his right arm in an awkward fall and he could miss Wednesday's Champions League game against Inter, as well as next Sunday's showdown with rivals Real Madrid.

Luis Suarez's second-half penalty and a late strike from Ivan Rakitic secured the points despite consolations from Pablo Sarabia and Luis Muriel, Ernesto Valverde's men moving into first place in the table, with Sevilla third after their four-game winning streak ended.

*Messi Injured But Barca Reclaim 🔝 Spot

Lionel Messi was substituted with an arm injury that makes him a doubt for next weekend's Clasico but the Barcelona captain inspired a 4-2 home win against Sevilla to send his side top of LaLiga.

Philippe Coutinho scored from Messi's pass in the second minute to get Barca off to a flying start at Camp Nou on Saturday and the Argentina superstar soon doubled the lead.

But Messi had to be substituted having hurt his right arm in an awkward fall and he could miss Wednesday's Champions League game against Inter, as well as next Sunday's showdown with rivals Real Madrid.

Luis Suarez's second-half penalty and a late strike from Ivan Rakitic secured the points despite consolations from Pablo Sarabia and Luis Muriel, Ernesto Valverde's men moving into first place in the table, with Sevilla third after their four-game winning streak ended.

*Gambia Launches Truth 👀Commission into Ex-Dictator's Abuse*

The tiny West African state of The Gambia on Monday swore in an 11-member commission tasked with shedding light on summary executions, disappearances, torture, rape and other crimes under ousted dictator Yahya Jammeh.

President Adama Barrow hailed the panel as a vital step towards national healing.

In a tweet, he said: "Let us stand together to say: 'Never again shall a few people oppress us as a nation. Never again shall the beautiful Smiling Coast experience a tyranny of the minority against the majority'."

Inspired by South Africa's investigation into the apartheid era, the commission will hold witness hearings into Jammeh's 22-year era of oppression.

The goal is to open the way to prosecuting those responsible and offering victims and their relatives the hope of closure.

"Gambians who were tortured or raped in prison, who were shot for peacefully demonstrating, who were forced into Jammeh’s phony HIV 'treatment' programmes, whose family members were killed or who were targeted in literal witch hunts will all be able to come forward," said Reed Brody of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

"When the truth commission is finished hearing from all the victims we should have a complete picture."

*Body of Missing Saudi Journalist Was Cut Into Pieces , Turkish Official Says*

The body of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi was cut into pieces after he died two weeks ago at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, a Turkish official told CNN on Tuesday.

The claim, which was first made to the New York Times earlier in the investigation, comes after Turkish officials searched the consulate for nine hours on Monday night. 
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier Tuesday said Turkish investigators were looking into "toxic" and "painted over material" as part of their inquiry. 
"My hope is that we can reach conclusions that will give us a reasonable opinion as soon as possible, because the investigation is looking into many things such as toxic materials and those materials being removed by painting them over," Erdogan told reporters. 
Turkish officials have said privately that Khashoggi was killed in the consulate on October 2 after he arrived to obtain papers that would have allowed him to marry his Turkish fiancée.

*Kanye West Gifts White Sneakers to Uganda's President*

Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian on Monday paid a visit to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, gifting the 74-year-old leader a pair of white sneakers.

Rap megastar West is in the east African nation to finish recording his ninth studio album "Yandhi", which was meant to drop two weeks ago, until his surprise decision to go and record in Africa to "feel the energy".

The serial Grammy-winning artist -- who recently announced he was changing his name to Ye -- arrived in Uganda on Saturday.

The country seizing the opportunity to market itself as a tourist destination, with the couple pictured visiting its natural sites.

Museveni welcomed them to the country on his Twitter account.

"I held fruitful discussions with the duo on how to promote Uganda's tourism and the arts. I thank Kanye for the gift of white sneakers. Enjoy your time in Uganda. It is the true Pearl of Africa," he wrote.

It is West's second audience with a president in under a week after his eyebrow-raising meeting with Donald Trump last Thursday, in which he performed a relentless monologue that left even the US President speechless.

His lecture included everything from Trump's protectionist trade policies to replacing Air Force One with a hydrogen plane, black gun crime and "infinite amounts of universe," was met with bemusement and concern.

"We have to go to what is known as Africa, I have to go and find out what it is really called and just grab the soil and cook five meals a day so the metabolism stays up and... have the mic in the open so you can hear nature while we are recording," West told entertainment site TMZ.

*Glo Announces Massive Network Upgrade for Call, Data Services*

The grandmasters of data, Globacom, has announced that it recently concluded a massive and comprehensive upgrade of its architecture across Nigeria to optimize its efficiency and radically improve the experience of subscribers on the network.

In a statement released in Lagos, the company said it had built hundreds of new transmitting sites across Nigeria to complement existing ones and massively improve the telco’s signals. This is intended to give more Nigerians access to relish Globacom’s very reliable 2G, 3G and 4G services.

The statement added that it had swapped obsolete parts with brand new state-of-the-art components, provided new power supply equipment in all transmitting sites, while fiber relocation had been completed resulting in higher fiber route and network availability.

“Transmission capacity has been increased with pure IP (Internet Protocol) backhaul in several states across Nigeria. The data core network interface ports have been upgraded from 40 GB to 100GB thereby doubling the network handling capacity”, the statement declared.

*Gov. Fayemi’s 🤝Earliest Appointments Anger Muslim youths*

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations, NACOMYO, has faulted the first appointments made by newly-inaugurated Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The religious youth group said the appointment was lopsided and totally marginalized the Muslim community in Ekiti State.

The organization said this during a protest held at the Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti, on Thursday.

The Coordinator of NACOMYO in the state, Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, pointed out that excluding Muslim from the first three appointments announced by the governor was “shocking and highly disturbing to all Muslim in the state.”

Fayemi had yesterday announced the appointments of Abiodun Oyebanji as Secretary to the State Government; Biodun Omoleye as Chief of Staff and Yinka Oyebode as his Chief Press Secretary.

*NLC Reacts to Implementation of ‘No-Work No-Pay’ rule*

The Organised Labour says the threat by the Federal Government to activate the “no-work- no pay’’ rule clause, will be a negation of workers’ right of association.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the assertion in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Wabba’s reaction followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval on Wednesday to apply the `no work, no pay’ principle during strike.

According to Wabba, the right to strike is a human and trade union right and cannot be wished away by any government policy.

“That’s why strike is legalised by our laws and has been exercised since colonial era to date.

“The right to strike is what differentiates a worker from a slave; just like the right to strike, right to picketing the right to work to rule, right to protest and peaceful assembly.

*Buhari Govt Suspends NHIS Boss, Prof. Usman Indefinitely*

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf, has been suspended.

Yusuf was suspended by the agency’s governing council to pave way for investigation into allegations levelled against him.

Chairman of the governing council, Dr Eyantu Ifenne made this known at a briefing in the NHIS headquarters on Thursday.

He said that based on the review of various documents on allegations levelled against Usman, they have resolved to constitute an administrative panel to investigate and submit their report in the next three months.

He said, “The ES is suspended indefinitely to pave unfettered space for the committee to do thorough investigations into the matter.”

Efene added that approval has been got from the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, in the regard.

“The council has also resolved that Dr Abubakar Sadiq Adamu immediately step into the acting capacity of the ES to allow activities to run smoothly,” he stated.

*Painting of Trump Among Past Presidents Seen at White House*

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

And as millions tuned in to behold President Trump's wide-ranging interview with CBS News on Sunday, a brief glimpse of the artwork on a White House wall caught the eye of many.

President Trump - viewers spotted - has a painting of himself sitting round a table with past Republican presidents including Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.

Independent Journal Review editor Josh Billinson was among those on Twitter to note the painting's presence.

Called The Republican Club, the artwork was created by Andy Thomas. The artist, who lives in Missouri, United States, was "ecstatic" to discover his art displayed in the White House, he told Time.

Republican congressman Darrell Issa reportedly gave it to the President.

"A lot of times gifts aren't really hung up, they're just pushed into a closet somewhere," Mr Thomas said.

"To find out it's actually hanging is really a treat."

*Court Okays Suit Seeking Buhari’s Minister*

The Federal High Court in Abuja has giving a go ahead to a suit seeking the suspension and probe of Minister of State on Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

A civil society group, Kingdom Rights Foundation International, had filed a suit on allegations of money laundering, operation of a foreign bank account, corruption and assets declaration irregularities against the Minister.

The enrolled order of the court bearing the stamp of the Federal High Court and the signature of the registrar with October 15, 2018 date, showed that Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo made the order on October 10.

The plaintiff, KHRFI, through its ex parte application filed on August 23, 2018, had sought the court’s leave to commence a suit seeking Kachikwu’s probe for the various allegations.

Also dragged alongside the Ministry were the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The plaintiff prayed the court, in the substantive suit, to conduct a judicial review of the administrative action/inaction of the defendants to perform their constitutional and statutory mandates and obligations in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Kachikwu.

Lawyer to the plaintiff, Okere Nnamdi, moved the ex parte application seeking leave to commence the suit on October 10.

Granting the request in her ruling, Justice Ogunbanjo held, “Leave is granted to the plaintiff/applicant to commence action for judicial review of administrative action/inaction to perform their constitutional and statutory mandate and obligation under section 174(1), (2), and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, sections 3 and 24 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP C15, Laws of the Federation 2004, and in section 5(1) of the EFCC Act, to investigate and prosecute Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu, on allegations of money laundering, operation of foreign bank account while occupying a public office, corruption, false declaration of assets, perjury and abuse of office, contrary to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers provided under paragraphs 1, 2 and 11(1) and (2) of the Fifth Schedule, Part I of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

*93-Year-Old Woman 👵🏼 Crowned 'Miss Holocaust Survivor' 👏 in Annual Pageant*

A 93-year-old woman was crowned 2018’s “Miss Holocaust Survivor” on Sunday, winning the Israel-based beauty contest for survivors of World War II’s Nazi Holocaust.

Great-grandmother Tova Ringer beat 12 other contestants to top the pageant, Reuters reported. Ringer was born in Poland and now lives in Haifa, the city where the annual event is based. She lost her parents, four sisters and a grandmother in the Auschwitz death camp, Reuters said.

“I’m very happy. It’s something special,” the new Miss Holocaust Survivor said, after donning her silver tiara and a blue-and-white sash. “I wouldn’t believe that at my age I would be a beauty.”

According to The Times of Israel, runners up included Rita Kasimow Brown, 85, Madeleine Schwartz, 74, and Tamara Weitzman, 81. It said “thousands” of people attended the event. Reuters reported that the youngest contestant, aged 74, was still working as a teacher.

*Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Dies of Cancer at Age 65 *

Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen has died from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Vulcan Inc. said Monday on behalf of his family.

Allen passed away Monday afternoon in Seattle at 65 years old, Vulcan said. His sister, Jody, said he was "a remarkable individual on every level."

"While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much-loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend. Paul's family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern," she said in a statement. "For all the demands on his schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss and grief for us – and so many others – we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day."

Trump Says “Rogue Killers” May Have Been To Blame For Jamal Khashoggi’s Disappearance❗*

*

President Donald Trump on Monday speculated that “rogue killers” from inside Saudi Arabia could have been responsible for the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

”I just spoke with the King of Saudi Arabia, who denied any knowledge of what took place with, as he said, his Saudi Arabian citizen,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn while preparing to depart to view damage from Hurricane Michael. “I’ve asked — and he firmly denied that — I asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to immediately get on a plane, go to Saudi Arabia, go to other places if necessary, which he probably will, he’ll go to Turkey if necessary.”

Khashoggi has been missing for nearly two weeks, after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming wedding. The journalist, a former insider with the royal family, had been living in the United States for the last year in a form of self-imposed exile, writing pieces critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the Washington Post’s opinion section. Turkish officials and police have told reporters that they believe Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate by a hit squad sanctioned by bin Salman.

“We are going to leave nothing uncovered. With that being said, the king denied any knowledge of it. He didn’t really know — I don’t want to get into his mind, but it sounded like it might have been rogue killers, who knows, we’re going to try getting to the bottom of it very soon, but his was a flat denial,” Trump continued.

*Facebook to Ban Misinformation on Voting 🗳 in Upcoming U.S. Elections*

Facebook Inc (FB.O) will ban false information about voting requirements and fake reports of violence or long lines at polling stations in the run-up to and during next month’s U.S. midterm elections, company executives told Reuters, the latest effort to reduce voter manipulation on its service.

The world’s largest online social network, with 1.5 billion daily users, has stopped short of banning all false or misleading posts, something that Facebook has shied away from as it would likely increase its expenses and leave it open to charges of censorship.

The latest move addresses a sensitive area for the company, which has come under fire for its lax approach to fake news reports and disinformation campaigns, which many believe affected the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, won by Donald Trump.

The new policy was disclosed by Facebook’s cyber security policy chief, Nathaniel Gleicher, and other company executives.

*Death Toll Reaches 60 in Nigerian Oil Pipeline Fire *

Sixty people were killed after a fire broke out on Friday on an oil pipeline in the southeast of Nigeria, a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Monday, up from the tally of 16 dead given by officials three days earlier.

The state oil company on Friday said pumping on the System 2E pipeline network had been halted.

“We will resume the pumping of products very soon,” NNPC spokesman Ndu Ughamadu told Reuters on Monday. “We had put out the fire. We are now pumping water in the pipeline to detect other possible areas of leakages.”

*Nigeria: Boko Haram Executes 😱 Second Female 👩 Aid Worker*

A second aid worker has been executed by Boko Haram in Nigeria after a deadline imposed to release imprisoned members of the armed group expired, the government said.

The Nigerian government was "shocked" and "saddened" by the killing of the woman, who was not identified, the information ministry said in a statement.

A clip of the execution of 24-year-old Hauwa Leman was seen on Monday by a correspondent of Nigeria's online news platform, The Cable.

"Leman was forced to kneel down, with her hands tied inside a white hijab which has a crest symbol, and then shot at a close range," The Cable reported.

Leman, a nurse with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was kidnapped by the armed group in March along with two other medical workers in Rann, Borno state in the country's northeast.

A midwife with ICRC, Saifura Ahmed, who had been abducted at the same time, was executed by Boko Haram in September.

*Russian Orthodox Church Splits from Constantinople Over Ukraine*

In the largest schism in Orthodox Christianity for over a century, the Russian Orthodox Church has cut all ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate over a "historic" decision to recognise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as independent.

Metropolitan Hilarion, a bishop in charge of the Russian Orthodox, told journalists that the decision to break relations with the Constantinople Patriarchate was taken by The Holy Synod, the governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Minsk, Belarus on Monday.

In an official declaration, members of the Holy Synod wrote that allowing another church to break away "is tantamount to renouncing its historical roots and commitments" making it "impossible" for the Russian Orthodox Church to continue its union with Constantinople.

The Holy Synod has also urged other Orthodox Churches to properly evaluate a decision taken by Constantinople and to "search for ways out of the gravest crisis that is tearing apart the body of church".

Trump Now Says 😒 He'll only Donate $1 Million if He Can "Personally" DNA Test Elizabeth Warren❗*

*

Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday responded to President Trump's mockery of her claims to Native American ancestry, releasing the results of a genetic test to try to shut down his critiques scientifically.

The president was not convinced.

"How much? 1/1000th?" Trump retorted when asked about the test's findings that Warren likely has Native American roots.

The president also scoffed at his former promise to donate $1 million to charity if Warren could prove she was Native American.

On Monday, the president said he only intended to make the donation if Warren secured the Democratic nomination and ran against him. And Trump, who famously believed that President Obama wasn't born in the US, wasn't swayed by Warren's DNA test.

"I'll only [donate] if I can test her personally," Trump said. "That will not be something I enjoy doing either."

*Qatar Demands Release of Four Qataris Disappeared in Saudi Arabia*

A Qatari human rights group is demanding Saudi Arabia disclose the whereabouts of four Qatari citizens who were forcibly disappeared in the neighbouring kingdom in separate cases since May last year.

The Doha-based National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) issued a statement on Sunday, saying it is holding the Saudi government responsible for the fate for the missing nationals, added it had "grave concerns" about the four.

NHRC chairman Ali bin Samikh al-Marri asked the United Nations' Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to send a mission to investigate the cases.

"What the Saudi authorities are doing towards Qatari nationals is shameful and inhumane," he said. "It will leave a major psychological mark on future generations," he added.

The NHRC has also contacted the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging it to intervene to secure the release of the Qataris.

*🔫Family Kicks as 👮Police Shoots, Kills Ex-Minister’s⚰ Daughter in Abuja*

The family of a former finance minister, Nenadi Usman, has written the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over alleged murder of the former Minister’s 31-year-old daughter, Anita Akapson.

The family’s petition was signed by their lawyer , Kayode Ajulo, alleging that Anita “was trailed, targeted, intercepted, her vehicle brushed, blocked and shot at close range by a police officer at Katampe District, Abuja.”

There have been reports that Akapson, who recently returned to Nigeria after her university education in the United Kingdom, was shot dead by a Superintendent of Police on around 11 pm on Saturday.

She was driving out of her house at Katampe Extension by Gwarimpa Estate in a Honda Accord car when she met her death.

Policemen were said to have surrounded the Akapson’s building and were lying in wait for a fleeing armed robbery suspect when the woman drove out of the compound.

But the family said Akapson was shot in the stomach after the police blocked her car and punctured the tyres with several bullets.

The lawyer to the family, Ajulo, in the petition demanded a thorough investigation into the killing, stating that Akapson’s murderers were being shielded by the police authorities.

Ajulo hinted that Usman was apprehensive that the murder might have political undertones on account of her position as a member of the leading opposition party in the country.

The petition read in part, “The circumstances of the trailing, tracking and gruesome murder of the deceased who had a strong affinity with Senator Nenadi Usman, a member of the leading opposition political party in Nigeria, and who is presently facing continuous prosecutions from the state, calls for thorough and comprehensive investigation.

“Given the level of intimidation of opposition by the instrumentalities of the state, our clients are worried as to the intent or possible calculated assassination of the deceased to further cause anguish to the family.”

*Court Okays👍 Suit Seeking Buhari’s👀 Minister*

The Federal High Court in Abuja has giving a go ahead to a suit seeking the suspension and probe of Minister of State on Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

A civil society group, Kingdom Rights Foundation International, had filed a suit on allegations of money laundering, operation of a foreign bank account, corruption and assets declaration irregularities against the Minister.

The enrolled order of the court bearing the stamp of the Federal High Court and the signature of the registrar with October 15, 2018 date, showed that Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo made the order on October 10.

The plaintiff, KHRFI, through its ex parte application filed on August 23, 2018, had sought the court’s leave to commence a suit seeking Kachikwu’s probe for the various allegations.

Also dragged alongside the Ministry were the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The plaintiff prayed the court, in the substantive suit, to conduct a judicial review of the administrative action/inaction of the defendants to perform their constitutional and statutory mandates and obligations in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Kachikwu.

Lawyer to the plaintiff, Okere Nnamdi, moved the ex parte application seeking leave to commence the suit on October 10.

Granting the request in her ruling, Justice Ogunbanjo held, “Leave is granted to the plaintiff/applicant to commence action for judicial review of administrative action/inaction to perform their constitutional and statutory mandate and obligation under section 174(1), (2), and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, sections 3 and 24 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP C15, Laws of the Federation 2004, and in section 5(1) of the EFCC Act, to investigate and prosecute Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu, on allegations of money laundering, operation of foreign bank account while occupying a public office, corruption, false declaration of assets, perjury and abuse of office, contrary to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers provided under paragraphs 1, 2 and 11(1) and (2) of the Fifth Schedule, Part I of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

*🏠My House😣 Surrounded:🔊 Fayose*

Outgoing Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has alleged “planned invasion” of his house.

Fayose raised the alarm via his Twitter handle early Tuesday morning.

He said he had informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of his readiness to submit himself for questioning and that there was no need for drama.

“It is known to the public that I offered to make myself available at the EFCC office today”, he tweeted.

“However, as I write, there are strange movements around my residence and I’m aware of planned invasion any moment from now.

“Despite this, I’Il be at the commission’s office tomorrow as promised”.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday had alleged that the presidency had directed the agency to incarcerate Fayose indefinitely.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP claimed that the information at the party’s disposal indicated that the EFCC had been placed on alert to arrest the governor.

PDP said the governor was a target owing to his persistent criticism of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government.

Why We Killed⚰ Red Cross Aid👀 Worker, Hauwa Leman: Boko Haram💥*

*

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram, has explained why they executed Hauwa Leman, an aid worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The terrorists also vowed to keep Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl, as “a slave for life”, TheCable gathered.

In a short clip, Leman was forced to kneel down, with her hands tied inside a white hijab, which has a crest symbol, and then shot at close range.

ISWAP, in a short statement, said: “We have kept our word exactly as we said, by killing another humanitarian worker, Hauwa Leman, who is working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that were abducted during a raid on a military facility in Rann, Kala Balge in March 2018.

“Saifura and Hauwa were killed because they are considered as Murtads (apostates) by the group because they were once Muslims that have abandoned their Islam, the moment they chose to work with the Red Cross, and for us, there is no difference between Red Cross and UNICEF.

“If we see them, we will kill the apostates among them, men or women, and chose to kill or keep the infidels as slaves, men or women.”

K

*Qatar Demands Release of Four Qataris Disappeared in Saudi Arabia*

A Qatari human rights group is demanding Saudi Arabia disclose the whereabouts of four Qatari citizens who were forcibly disappeared in the neighbouring kingdom in separate cases since May last year.

The Doha-based National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) issued a statement on Sunday, saying it is holding the Saudi government responsible for the fate for the missing nationals, added it had "grave concerns" about the four.

NHRC chairman Ali bin Samikh al-Marri asked the United Nations' Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to send a mission to investigate the cases.

"What the Saudi authorities are doing towards Qatari nationals is shameful and inhumane," he said. "It will leave a major psychological mark on future generations," he added.

The NHRC has also contacted the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging it to intervene to secure the release of the Qataris.

*Nigeria: Boko Haram Executes Second Female Aid Worker*

A second aid worker has been executed by Boko Haram in Nigeria after a deadline imposed to release imprisoned members of the armed group expired, the government said.

The Nigerian government was "shocked" and "saddened" by the killing of the woman, who was not identified, the information ministry said in a statement.

A clip of the execution of 24-year-old Hauwa Leman was seen on Monday by a correspondent of Nigeria's online news platform, The Cable.

"Leman was forced to kneel down, with her hands tied inside a white hijab which has a crest symbol, and then shot at a close range," The Cable reported.

Leman, a nurse with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was kidnapped by the armed group in March along with two other medical workers in Rann, Borno state in the country's northeast.

A midwife with ICRC, Saifura Ahmed, who had been abducted at the same time, was executed by Boko Haram in September.

*Russian Orthodox Church Splits from Constantinople Over Ukraine*

In the largest schism in Orthodox Christianity for over a century, the Russian Orthodox Church has cut all ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate over a "historic" decision to recognise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as independent.

Metropolitan Hilarion, a bishop in charge of the Russian Orthodox, told journalists that the decision to break relations with the Constantinople Patriarchate was taken by The Holy Synod, the governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Minsk, Belarus on Monday.

In an official declaration, members of the Holy Synod wrote that allowing another church to break away "is tantamount to renouncing its historical roots and commitments" making it "impossible" for the Russian Orthodox Church to continue its union with Constantinople.

The Holy Synod has also urged other Orthodox Churches to properly evaluate a decision taken by Constantinople and to "search for ways out of the gravest crisis that is tearing apart the body of church".

*Painting of Trump Among Past Presidents Seen at White House*

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

And as millions tuned in to behold President Trump's wide-ranging interview with CBS News on Sunday, a brief glimpse of the artwork on a White House wall caught the eye of many.

President Trump - viewers spotted - has a painting of himself sitting round a table with past Republican presidents including Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.

Independent Journal Review editor Josh Billinson was among those on Twitter to note the painting's presence.

Called The Republican Club, the artwork was created by Andy Thomas. The artist, who lives in Missouri, United States, was "ecstatic" to discover his art displayed in the White House, he told Time.

Republican congressman Darrell Issa reportedly gave it to the President.

"A lot of times gifts aren't really hung up, they're just pushed into a closet somewhere," Mr Thomas said.

"To find out it's actually hanging is really a treat."

*Trump Now Says He'll only Donate $1 Million if He Can "Personally" DNA Test Elizabeth Warren❗*

Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday responded to President Trump's mockery of her claims to Native American ancestry, releasing the results of a genetic test to try to shut down his critiques scientifically.

The president was not convinced.

"How much? 1/1000th?" Trump retorted when asked about the test's findings that Warren likely has Native American roots.

The president also scoffed at his former promise to donate $1 million to charity if Warren could prove she was Native American.

On Monday, the president said he only intended to make the donation if Warren secured the Democratic nomination and ran against him. And Trump, who famously believed that President Obama wasn't born in the US, wasn't swayed by Warren's DNA test.

"I'll only [donate] if I can test her personally," Trump said. "That will not be something I enjoy doing either."

*Russian Orthodox Church Splits from Constantinople Over Ukraine*

In the largest schism in Orthodox Christianity for over a century, the Russian Orthodox Church has cut all ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate over a "historic" decision to recognise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as independent.

Metropolitan Hilarion, a bishop in charge of the Russian Orthodox, told journalists that the decision to break relations with the Constantinople Patriarchate was taken by The Holy Synod, the governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Minsk, Belarus on Monday.

In an official declaration, members of the Holy Synod wrote that allowing another church to break away "is tantamount to renouncing its historical roots and commitments" making it "impossible" for the Russian Orthodox Church to continue its union with Constantinople.

The Holy Synod has also urged other Orthodox Churches to properly evaluate a decision taken by Constantinople and to "search for ways out of the gravest crisis that is tearing apart the body of church".

*Koeman Assures VVD Will Be Fit for Liverpool*

Virgil van Dijk is fit to feature in Liverpool's Premier League clash with Huddersfield Town on Saturday, according to Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman.

Van Dijk was ruled out of his country's friendly with Belgium on Tuesday after the Royal Dutch Football Association confirmed he was still suffering from a rib injury sustained in Liverpool's meeting with Southampton last month.

"He's back in Liverpool but he is ready to play for next week," Koeman said. "He's taken a rest. The medical staff of the Dutch national team spoke to the medical staff of Liverpool and made the decision that he would play only the Germany game and then after that go back to Liverpool."

"He is ready to play next weekend."

*Usain Bolt⚡ Earns Contract📄 Offer from Maltese Champions*

Central Coast Mariners trialist Usain Bolt has a two-year contract offer from Valletta, the Maltese champions have confirmed.

Former sprint king and eight-time Olympic champion Bolt – on trial with Australian side the Mariners in his bid to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional footballer – was linked with an unnamed European club following his two-goal haul on Friday.

Bolt scored twice in his first start against Macarthur South West United before the 32-year-old Jamaican's agent Tony Rallis revealed a two-year deal was on the table.

Valletta, who were taken over by Abu Dhabi-based Sanban Group in September, want Bolt to spearhead their Champions League aspirations.

*CR7⚡ & Zidane Exits stunned Real Madrid Star Modric*

Luka Modric admits he “wasn’t expecting” Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane to leave Real Madrid during a summer of much change at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He admits to having been left stunned by the departure of a legendary boss and five-time Ballon d’Or winner, stating: “I wasn't expecting either of the two to go; I didn't think Zidane would leave and the same with Ronaldo.

“In fact when the rumours about Cristiano appeared, we had bets among ourselves and we were certain he would stay, but everyone makes their own decisions.”

Modric said of working with Zidane, "I was lucky to have him as a coach and we have lived some incredible moments with him at Real Madrid, sometimes he'd play alongside us and it was incredible to see how elegant he was and how he moved over the pitch.”

*Sadio Mane Suffers Hand Injury While on Senegal Duty*

Sadio Mane has become the latest Liverpool player to sustain an injury while on international duty after suffering a hand injury with Senegal, although an official diagnosis has yet to be provided.

Reports suggest that Liverpool are aware of the injury and will assess him upon his return to Merseyside.

It remains unclear at this stage whether Mane has withdrawn from the Senegal squad ahead of Tuesday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Sudan.

Neymar Pleased Brazil Will Not Face Messi🌟*

*

Neymar is pleased Brazil will not have to go up against Lionel Messi when they take on Argentina in Saudi Arabia on 16th October.

"For those who love football, having Messi out of a game like this is bad. But for us it's good," Neymar told a pre-match news conference. "We never underestimate Argentina's quality, the players they have in their squad.

"Argentina have Dybala, who is a player that I really like, so we have to be switched on.

"It's a very difficult game. We will have to do our job and it's always good to play them. There are no favourites."

*ESP 2⃣-3⃣ ENG : Three Lions Trump La Roja in High Scoring Game

Spain 2⃣-3⃣ England

⚽Goals 
Sterling - 16', 38' 
Rashford - 29' 
 
Alcacer - 58' 
Ramos - 90+7'

England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years as they recorded a memorable Uefa Nations League win over Spain in Seville.

Gareth Southgate's side were 3-0 up after a sensational first half, Raheem Sterling ending a three-year and 27-game barren sequence with a thunderous early opener and he was on the mark from close range for the third before the interval, with a composed strike from Marcus Rashford sandwiched in between.

Spain, torn apart by England's pace in those opening 45 minutes, responded in predictable fashion in a chaotic second period as Paco Alcacer pulled a goal back just before the hour with a near-post header.

England lived on their nerves, particularly goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, whose exceptional ability with the ball at his feet helped create their first two goals but was also lucky to survive a penalty appeal when he seemed to bring down Rodrigo after attempting to be too clever in his own area.

Spain hit the woodwork and Sergio Ramos scored with the final act of the game in the 97th minute.

*Saudi Arabia May 👀 Admit to Killing Jamal Khashoggi, according to CNN❗*

CNN's chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward reports that Saudi Arabia may admit it killed Jamal Khashoggi at the Turkish consulate.

"According to two sources, the Saudis are preparing a report that will acknowledge Jamal Khashoggi's death was the result of an interrogation that went wrong, one that was intended to lead to his abduction from Turkey," according to Ward and CNN journalist Tim Lister. "One source says the report will likely conclude that the operation was carried out without clearance and transparency and that those involved will be held responsible."

A second report, from the New York Times, is confirming the story, citing 'a person familiar with the Saudi plans'.

"The person said Prince Mohammed had approved an interrogation or rendition of Mr. Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia. But, he said, the Saudi intelligence official was tragically incompetent as he eagerly sought to prove himself in secretive operations."