US President Joe Biden has revealed plans to expel Uganda, Gabon, Niger and the Central African Republic from a special US-Africa trade programme.

The countries were either involved in “gross violations” of human rights or not making progress towards democratic rule, the president said.

The US introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in 2000.

It gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US for more than 1,800 products.

President Biden said that Niger and Gabon – both of which are currently under military rule following coups this year – are ineligible for Agoa because they “have not established, or are not making continual progress toward establishing the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law”.

He also said that the removal of the CAR and Uganda from the programme was due to “gross violations of internationally recognised human rights” by their governments.

In May, the US government said it was considering removing Uganda from Agoa and introducing sanctions on the country after it passed a controversial anti-homosexuality law.

The law, which imposes a death penalty on people found guilty of engaging in certain same-sex acts, has faced global criticism.

“Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the Agoa eligibility criteria,” President Biden said on Monday, in a letter addressed to the speaker of the US House of Representatives.

The four countries are yet to react to the announcement.

Their expulsion from Agoa is set to take effect from the start of next year and is likely to impact their economies, as Agoa has been credited with promoting exports, economic growth and job creation among participating countries.

The threat to exclude Niger and Gabon from Agoa is the latest US government action against the two junta-led countries.

The US State Department announced last week that it had suspended most foreign aid to Gabon and would only resume assistance if Gabon’s transitional government establishes democratic rule.

In August, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a similar measure against Niger, saying that the US “is pausing certain foreign assistance programs benefitting the government of Niger”.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have all previously been expelled from Agoa after military coups in those countries.

South Australian police are searching for the body of a man thought to have been killed in a shark attack.

The 55-year-old was surfing near Granites Beach south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula on Tuesday morning local time when witnesses reported seeing him being attacked.

The authorities have been scouring the area by air and water with the assistance of local volunteers.

It is the third serious shark attack in the state this year.

Another surfer was killed in May about 120km from Streaky Bay, while a third suffered a non-fatal attack earlier this month.

It is not clear what kind of shark was involved in the attack but witnesses have told local media that it was more than 4m (157ft 4in) in length.

Phil McEvoy, who lives in Streaky Bay, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he had heard sirens sounding in the morning “for quite some time”.

“I knew then there must have been something wrong, and the sirens sort of went away towards the back beach area where the surf is,” he said.

According to 9News, the man was one of six surfers who were in the water at the time but he had paddled out further than the rest.

Mr McEvoy added that the town was currently seeing an influx of surfers and thought that the fishing season might have something to do with a possible increase in sharks in the area.

The waters of South Australia’s west coast are well known for the presence of sharks and scientists have cautioned that an increase in sightings of sharks doesn’t necessarily mean there is an increase in numbers.

Granites Beach is about 700km (434 miles) from Adelaide, the state’s capital.

Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup after Australia decided against bidding to stage the tournament.

Football Australia confirmed its decision only hours before Fifa’s deadline for declarations of interest on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia is the only other nation to bid.”We have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” read a statement from Football Australia.

The 2026 World Cup will take place in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Morocco, Portugal and Spain will host the 2030 tournament, with matches also in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Saudi Arabia has hosted several major sporting events since 2018, involving football, Formula 1, golf and boxing.

The Gulf kingdom has been accused of investing in sport and using high-profile events to improve its international reputation – a process known as sportswashing.

Last month Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said: “If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by 1%, then we’ll continue doing sportswashing.”

Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, on Monday, inaugurated 17 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass transit buses in Abeokuta.

Speaking during the event, Mr Abiodun said introducing CNG mass transit buses in Nigeria would revolutionise the entire transport sector of the nation.

The governor noted that the development would reduce the hardship being experienced by Nigerians due to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

Mr Abiodun, while unveiling the first set of the CNG mass transit buses, pledged to extend the operation across the state.

He stated that the initiative was conceived before the fuel subsidy removal, adding that his administration was desirous of a cost-effective transportation system to mitigate the effect of climate change.

“As your governor, I am extremely delighted that we are able to commence the implementation of this laudable initiative, and I am bold to say that we have come tops again as the first state in the country to record this feat,” the governor said.

Mr Abiodun further explained that the initiative would reduce the cost of transporting goods and services and provide training and job opportunities for thousands of technicians and mechanics around the state.

He stated that some of the buses would be deployed on campuses to assist students while some would be assigned to transport the civil servants.

“Some will ply Kuto to Wole Soyinka train station in Laderin, some from Onikolobo to Idi-Aba corridor, while others will serve the Ita-Oshin-Adatan route.

“As we expand our fleet, we will also deploy buses to major towns and cities, starting with Sango-Ota, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and this will provide mass transportation for our citizens, particularly our young students in the towns and cities,” he said.

Mr Abiodun appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the initiative, noting that the state government was following the direction of the federal government as a sub-national in executing the project.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah has reiterated Kuwait’s refusal to normalise relations with Israel “unless a future Palestinian state is established in line with international resolutions.”

He made the remarks at a news conference held at the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry on Monday.

The minister added he is responsible for Kuwait’s security and interests abroad by maintaining relations with friendly, brotherly and allied countries.

“The Palestinian issue is our first issue, without any ambiguity, Kuwait has never deviated from the path,” he said, adding that the war Israel waged against Gaza is retaliatory, not defensive.

The Kuwaiti top diplomat had called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza, providing assistance to the besieged enclave.

He also urged ultimately resolving the Palestinian issue through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.

Bayern Munich’s German Cup game at third division Saarbrücken may not go as planned on Wednesday because of a water-logged pitch after heavy rain.

The Saarbrücken club said an inspection by the city and the regional football association took place on Monday along with draining measures. However, a final decision would not be made until after another inspection on Tuesday.

Saarbrücken’s league match against Dynamo Dresden on Sunday was abandoned at half-time because of the condition of the pitch. The rain continued overnight, and more is forecast for Tuesday.

Saarbrücken said the sold-out second-round match could not be moved to other stadiums in the area because those in question are also being used for midweek Cup games.

Moreover, in the parallel market, it exchanged for N1200/$1 on Monday from 1113/1$ on Friday.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, last week had disclosed that the country would soon receive an inflow of $10 billion in foreign currency to mitigate the forex crisis.

“Erling deserved it very much too, he has won Premier League, Champions League while being the top scorer of everything.

“This award could have been yours today too. I’m sure in the next years you will win it,” Messi said.

Nigeria’s currency started the week negatively, depreciating against the Dollar at the foreign exchange market.

According to FMDQ statistics, at the close of work day on Monday, the Naira fell to N993/$1.

The slump represented an N203 differential from the N789.94/$1 it recorded on Friday.

Also, the market recorded a turnover of $88.3 million, a 66 per cent drop from the $259.8 million it recorded on Friday.

Moreover, in the parallel market, it exchanged for N1200/$1 on Monday from 1113/1$ on Friday.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, last week had disclosed that the country would soon receive an inflow of $10 billion in foreign currency to mitigate the forex crisis.

The organizers of the Ballon d’Or, France Football, have opted not to award Lionel Messi with the Super Ballon d’Or award, according to Marca.

Messi is expected to be named the winner of the 2023 prize at an event that will be held in Paris, France on Monday.

It will be the eighth time the 36-year-old will win it, more than anyone else in history.

However, there were suggestions to award him the trophy given to the best player in the past three decades.

Alfredo Di Stefano is the only player to ever win the Super Ballon d’Or award.

The Real Madrid legend in the 1950s won five consecutive European Championships with the Spanish giants and scored 308 goals overall.

Di Stefano received the award in 1989 from France Football after being voted by many previous Ballon d’Or winners.

The Management of Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, on Monday suspended all 200- to 600-level medical students for one month.

This is contained in an internal memo, signed by the Registrar, Dr Mfaga Modom, and further confirmed by the university spokesperson, Mr Tser Vanger.

Dr Modom said in the memo that all 200- to 600-level Medical Students of the College of Health Sciences should proceed on a one-month suspension with effect from 8:00 a.m. on 30th October and resume on Wednesday, 29th November.

Before arriving at this decision, she said, the school Management reviewed the recent actions of the affected students and reports from relevant authorities regarding their demonstration of 25th October.

She said the Management also noted with dismay the recalcitrant attitude of the students before, during and after the demonstration.

She said an investigative committee would be constituted to look into the remote and immediate causes of the demonstration and advise as appropriate.

“A top Management Committee of the College of Health Sciences is hereby directed to implement the Resolutions of the Reports of the various committees on the students’ demonstration.

She warned that on resumption, each student should bring a Sworn Affidavit from a competent Court of Law attesting to be of good conduct. Each student should also come along with his/her Parent/Guardian, who will sign an undertaking.

“The Benue State University Medical Students Association (BESUMSA) has also been suspended with immediate effect till further notice,” she also said, warning the suspended medical students to immediately vacate their hostels on Monday, 30th October.

She said the academic activities of the 100-level medical students remain uninterrupted.

Popular singer, Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel aka Mayorkun has urged members of the National Assembly to ensure Nigerian roads are fixed instead of buying new vehicles for themselves.

Cross section of Nigerians have been criticising the procurement of 2023 model Toyota Prado for 469 members of the Assembly.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, had justified the purchase of the vehicles in a chat with journalists, saying “Nigerian roads are bad.”

Reacting via his Snapchat page recently, singer Mayorkun urged the lawmakers to fix Nigerian roads instead of buying vehicles for themselves.

He wrote, “Road no good, una dey buy new SUV.

“Fix the f**king rooooadddddd!!!!

“Lekki Epe Express is Terrible!. Appalling sh*t!

“Nothing like I can drive’ in this country o, I sabi road’ is a better compliment.”

The most-awaited award ceremony of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, will get underway on Monday in Paris, France.

This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet.

The live streaming of the 2023 Ballon d’Or will be available on France Football’s official website and will start at 6pm, Nigerian time.

Former Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema won the last edition of the prestigious award after beating the likes of Sadio Mane and Kevin de Bruyne.

However, there are three strong contenders – Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Messi won the FIFA World Cup last year and also the Best Player award for the tournament. He also won the French Ligue title with PSG before leaving the club to join Inter Miami in the summer.

Haaland, meanwhile, won the Champions League, FA Cup and the Premier League title with Man City.

He also scored a record 52 goals in all competitions last season.

Mbappe, on his part, led France to a second finish at the World Cup after they lost to Argentina in the final. He won the Golden Boot for the top scorer in the competition and also won the French Ligue 1 title with PSG.

Other contenders are André Onana, Josko Gvardiol, Karim Benzema, Jamal Musiala, Mohamed Salah, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Randal Kolo Muani, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Emiliano Martínez and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The remaining includes Rúben Dias, Nicolo Barella, Yassine Bounou, Martin Ødegaard, Julián Álvarez, Ilkay Gündogan, Vinícius Júnior, Rodri, Lautaro Martínez, Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappé, Kim Min-jae, Victor Osimhen, Luka Modric and Harry Kane.

South Africa, on Monday, called for the United Nations to deploy a rapid protection force to protect civilians in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza from further bombardment.

The plea came as Israel steps up its retaliation for a deadly attack by militant group Hamas.

South Africa has long been an advocate for peace in the region, likening the plight of Palestinians to its own under the apartheid regime that ended in 1994.

In calling for a protection force, South Africa has gone further in its support for the Palestinians than most nations, some of which have called for a ceasefire or the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow aid into Gaza.

Israel has tightened its blockade and bombardment of Gaza since Hamas gunmen stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed some 1,400 people.

Palestinians in Gaza reported fierce air and artillery strikes early on Monday.

“Entire generations of families have been wiped out in Gaza over the last three weeks,’’ the foreign ministry said in a statement.

A member of the Palestinian community in Johannesburg had 25 family members killed in an Israeli air strike on Monday morning, the statement said, while family members of a senior Palestinian diplomat in South Africa were killed in their apartment building the day before.

“The numbers of non-combatants killed, especially the numbers of children killed, requires that the world to show that it is serious about global accountability,’’ the statement said.

Medical authorities in Gaza said on Sunday that 8,005 people had been killed in the three-week war. Reuters was not able to independently confirm the figures.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has previously offered to help mediate the conflict.

South Africa also said earlier this month that its foreign minister held a call with the leader of Hamas about getting aid into Gaza while underlining that it did not support the group.

The cause of Matthew Perry’s death is unknown and has been “deferred” pending further investigation.

The LA Times and TMZ, which first reported the Friends actor had died, said the star was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his house on Saturday.

Perry’s post-mortem examination was inconclusive, while officials await the results of toxicology tests.

There were no obvious signs of trauma, an LA Police spokesperson confirmed to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.

The LA County Medical Examiner’s office updated their file on Sunday to say the case had been deferred.

This usually means that the post-mortem is complete but more detail is needed.

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told the BBC on Sunday that first responders went to an address in the Pacific Palisades area, regarding a “water emergency” of an unknown type, but did not name Perry.

The Friends star, who died at the age of 54, was best known for playing wisecracking Chandler Bing in the hugely popular ’90s TV sitcom.

The show, which followed the fortunes of six young friends living in New York City, aired from 1994 until 2004.

Its final episode was watched by 52.5 million in the US, making it the most watched TV episode of the 2000s.But while at the height of his fame, Perry was battling with addiction to painkillers and alcohol, and attended rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions.

In 2016, he told BBC Radio 2 that he could not remember three years of filming during Friends, because of drink and drugs.

At least three workers have died after scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in the German city of Hamburg, according to officials.

Others have been injured, including at least one person who is in a critical condition.

The incident happened on Monday morning at the Uberseequartier in the HafenCity district – one of the biggest construction sites in the city.

The scaffolding collapsed from the eighth floor down into a lift shaft.An unknown number of people are still missing – thought to have been buried under the debris.

The fire department initially said five people had lost their lives – but they have now revised that number down.

According to German media, dozens of emergency service staff are at the site, which has been evacuated.

“Currently a very difficult technical rescue operation by fire brigade rescuers is under way,” Philipp Baumann, a spokesman for the Hamburg Fire Department, told German broadcaster ZDF.

“The fire service is working flat out”.

Hundreds of people are currently employed at the construction site – part of a major redevelopment that features offices, houses, hotels and shops.

At least 13 people have died and about 50 are injured after two passenger trains collided in India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state on Sunday.

A rescue operation was launched and hundreds of emergency workers were at the site to clear the wreckage.

Officials said a preliminary investigation has found that a “human error” had led to the collision.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and said he was in touch with the railways minister.

The crash took place in the Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening.

Officials said three carriages of a passenger train, travelling between Visakhapatnam and Palasa, derailed around 19:00 (13:30 GMT), after it was hit by another train.

The train had stopped on the tracks “due to a break in an overhead cable”, when a second incoming passenger train travelling between Visakhapatnam and Rayagada rammed into it from behind, a railway official told Reuters news agency.

Hundreds of ambulances, doctors, nurses and rescue personnel were sent to the scene to rescue passengers and pull out bodies.Biswajit Sahu, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Coast Railway, said that a “human error” had led to the collision, caused by “overshooting of signal” by the second train.

He added that 33 trains have been cancelled and 22 others have been diverted following the accident. Railway officials expect the affected track to be cleared for traffic to resume by Monday evening.

Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s office said he would visit the site of accident on Monday. The minister has also announced financial compensation for the victims.

India has one of the largest train networks in the world with millions of passengers using it daily, but a lot of the railway infrastructure needs improving.

Sunday’s accident comes just months after a devastating crash involving three trains killed 292 people and injured thousands more in the eastern state of Odisha.

The country’s top detective agency arrested three railway employees in connection with the railway accident, which was the worst in 20 years.

A major military and police search is under way in Colombia for the father of Liverpool player Luis Diaz, with the authorities offering a £40,000 reward for information leading to his rescue.

More than 120 soldiers, plus police, searched northern Colombia for Luis Manuel Diaz on Sunday, with reports armed men had taken him and his wife.

The player’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was found in Barrancas on Saturday.

Diaz was absent from the Liverpool side which beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

In a statement, the army said it had set up roadblocks and deployed two motorised platoons, unmanned aircraft, helicopters and a plane with radar in the search for his father.

The Colombian authorities have not provided details about the reported kidnapping, but local media said Diaz’s mother and father were taken by armed men on motorcycles at a gas station in Barrancas, their home town, which is in La Guajira, the country’s northern region.

Colombia President Gustavo Petro said “all the public forces have been deployed” to find Diaz’s father.

Speaking on Sunday, the director of the National Police, General William Rene Salamanca, announced a reward of “up to 200m pesos” (about £40,000) for information.

Attorney General Francisco Barbosa said he had contacted Diaz twice to provide the 26-year-old with updates on the investigation.

Barbosa told the player that information has been obtained regarding the possibility that his father could be in Venezuela – a situation which, Barbosa said, would require intervention by President Petro.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dedicated Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest to Diaz, saying they had won “for our brother”.

Surrounded by his team-mates, Diogo Jota held up the Colombia player’s number seven shirt after scoring Liverpool’s first goal.

The club said before Sunday’s game that they were “aware of an ongoing situation” involving the family of Diaz, adding the player’s welfare “will continue to be our immediate priority”.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Sunday’s 3-0 demolition by local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford was one of the most disappointing days in his tenure with the team.

Asked if Sunday was one of his worst days on the job, the downcast manager told reporters: “Yes. Of course, it is disappointing.”

“When you lose a derby in the way we lost, it is disappointing. First half, we had a very good game plan, and the execution was very good, and then the penalty changed the moment.”

City’s goal-scoring machine, Erling Haaland, converted a penalty in the 26th minute in his first of two goals.

Phil Foden added the visitors’ third in the 80th minute, sending disgruntled United fans to the exits early.

United stumbled out to a horrible start to their season, but there was a sense of the tide turning after their 1-0 Champions League win on Tuesday over Copenhagen.

It was their third consecutive victory in all competitions. But the chasm between the Manchester sides looked huge on Sunday as City ran circles around the home team in the second half.

Asked if United, who are eighth in the standings after 10 games, were heading in the wrong direction, Ten Hag countered that the first half was toe-to-toe before the penalty and pointed out Scott McTominay’s shot just before the break that keeper Ederson punched over the bar.

United’s loss marked the third time they had been beaten by three or more goals in a Premier League home game by City.It was also City’s seventh win at Old Trafford under manager Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola’s squad turned the storied stadium into their playground on Sunday to the delight of visiting sky blue fans, who never stopped singing.Guardiola was asked why the victory had come so easily.

“I understand the question because you are a good journalist – it looks easy, but it is not,” he said.

Formers Manchester United defender Gary Neville called United’s loss “appalling” on Sky Sports.

“(City have) got brilliant players, and what you saw at the end of today, with players running back, you saw everything you want to see in a team.

“Pep must be delighted. You can have all the skill and talent, but they’ve got hunger,” added former United player Roy Keane.

A lecturer of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Adefolalu Funmilola, was Sunday morning, found dead, with her throat slit, in her apartment in Gbaiko.

The female lecturer, an associate professor of the Department of Biochemistry in the institution, was awaiting promotion to professor before the end of this year when the university council dissolved and must have been reconstituted.

Reports of her demise became public when her church members visited her home because she did not attend service. But noticing that she was inside, they forced themselves in through her room door, where they found her dead.

A witness narrated, “When members of her church went to her residence, they sense she could be in and have to force her door open only to see her in her pool of blood. She was found with her throat slit and knives found beside her.”

Confirming the incident to journalists, the chairman of the Minna chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bolarin Gbolahan, said,

“It is strange that academics are now becoming endangered species. Our members are being kidnapped almost every week at Keffi now. We can not sleep in peace again in our homes in Minna.”

He added, “The level of insecurity is becoming worrisome, and something must be done before we all become victims of systemic failure.”

Also confirming the sad incident, the state police public relations officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said, “On 29/10/2023 at about 1000hrs, some friends of one Dr Mrs Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at FUT Minna visited her residence in Gbaiko Area of Minna due to inability to get her on the phone and unfortunately, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of blood with marks of injury on her body.

“Two knives with blood stains suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown person(s) were recovered from the scene.”

Mr Abiodun said the victim was confirmed dead at the IBB Hospital, Minna. He added that an investigation was ongoing.

The Abia Warriors FC, on Sunday, thrashed visiting Heartland FC of Owerri in an oriental derby by a lone goal in the Match Day 5 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Chinerem Okike (Meme) put the home side ahead of the visitors in the eight minutes of the encounter at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

The goal seemed to have put Heartland under pressure in the pulsating first half, which saw both sides wasting their chances in front of goals.

Abia Warriors, on their part, left nothing to chance as they stoically defended the goal.

Both sides created more chances in the second half but failed to utilise them as they appeared to be playing under tension.

The win gave the Abia Warriors their needed maximum of three points.In a post-match interview, the coach of Abia Warriors, Erasmus Onu, said they were lucky to get the three points but rued the chances missed by his team.

“The issue of misses is a difficult thing everywhere, but I know we will get it right by God’s grace.

“We are preparing for the next match, and we will take them one after the other,” he said.

The home side, which had won their three home matches and lost two previous away games, now stand at the fifth position on the table with nine points.