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FCT Needs Own Police Force To Improve Security, Says Lawmaker

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A member of the House of Representatives, Joshua Obika, has called for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to have a police force as a pilot phase in response to the government’s increasing debate over state police. Obika also cited rising insecurity and stretched infrastructure in Abuja.

Obika claimed that the initial security structure for Abuja had been overbuilt as a result of the influx of visitors from all over the nation looking for safety during a speech on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program on Thursday.

The National Assembly is the FCT’s legislative body, and Mr. President is Abuja’s governor under the Constitution. Before we can pass the law establishing FCT policing, we don’t need the two-thirds state assembly’s approval. To start this program, I suggest using the FCt as a pilot state.

READ MORE:   Tinubu Orders Security Review In Katsina, Backs State Police

People now believe that Abuja is Nigeria’s safest city, and both good and bad people are also influxing as a result. He claimed that the security architecture in Abuja was “overwhelming.”

The lawmaker, who represents the FCT’s Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency, noted that many rural areas lacked police presence, making them potential hideouts for criminals.

He added that the majority of modern technology was absent.

Obika suggested earmarking a small portion of Abuja’s internally generated revenue when proposing a funding model.

You can only use modern technology to solve these kinds of issues, according to the FCT command, which I don’t believe has any drones in place. Money is necessary for the police.

“The FCT generates about 1.8 trillion internally,” according to the statement. The independent police force of the FCT can use about 2% of the proceeds. He argued that there are many benefits to using modern technology, hiring more men, and increasing vehicle ownership to combat crime.

His request comes as President Bola Tinubu recently stated that some states required security personnel who are knowledgeable about the local environment and culture.

The President stated that the federal government would take into account the state police’s operations and to properly equip recently deployed forest guards when he received a delegation of prominent citizens of Katsina State led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the State House on Tuesday.

Climate change driving conditions for Iberian wildfires: Study

According to a recent study, climate change is making the wildfires that affect hundreds of thousands of hectares of land on the Iberian Peninsula each year more frequent and intense.

According to a study released on Thursday, researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network found that climate change is 40 times more likely to cause wildfires in Portugal and Spain, as well as other regions of Europe.

The publication comes a few weeks after a heat wave and deadly wildfires hit Europe, bringing together findings that warn of Mediterranean fire-conducting weather.

The WWA declared that Spain’s fires in 2025 were the worst in 30 years, almost quadrupling the average annual burned during that time.

The burned area in Portugal was 2.3 times that much as it had been annually since 1980.

More than 380, 000 hectares (940, 000 acres) were burned this year in Spain, and 280, 000 in Portugal.

According to the WWA, both nations make up two-thirds of the one million hectares (2,5 million acres) of wildfire-ravaged land in Europe this year, which is “the worst” since the Copernicus European Forest Fire Information System began recording in 2006.

More than 1% of the Iberian Peninsula’s surface area burned overall in 2025, according to the report.

The wildfires caused at least four fatalities, according to reports, and a large number of people were forced to flee.

The report warned that “with further warming, more extreme, concurrent fire-weather will continue to put the limits on firefighting resources and push the boundaries of adaptation.”

The researchers also noted that unmanaged forest land has become a result of rural depopulation and an ageing population in parts of Portugal and Spain, making dense fuel loads and hazy conditions more susceptible to wildfires.

The Iberian Peninsula experienced unusually high temperatures throughout the entire month of August, with many locations experiencing thermometers that exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

More than 1,100 deaths were related to the 16-day heatwave in Spain, according to an estimate from the Carlos III Health Institute.

The heatwave was “the most intense on record,” according to Spain’s State Meteorological Agency.

This year, intense wildfires were reported in countries like France, Italy, Greece, Albania, and Turkiye.

According to WWA, wildfires also had devastating effects on nature, harming 395 endangered, vulnerable, or specially protected species habitats in Spain and Portugal.

In the municipality of El Arenal, central Spain, a firefighting aircraft catches a wildfire in July.

You star Penn Badgley welcomes identical twin boys and shares adorable first look

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After welcoming identical twins, You and Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley and wife Domino Kirke are at odds with themselves.

You star Penn Badgley has revealed he has welcomed identical twin boys with his wife Domino Kirke. The US actor, 38, best known for his roles in teen drama Gossip Girl and stalker thriller You, slipped the announcement into an Instagram post promoting a live event he is taking part in ahead of the release of his new book. He wrote on Instagram: “Interrupting twin paternity leave to announce a live event @podcrushed at @symphonyspace Oct 14 NYC supporting the release of our book Crushmore. Truly proud of this one. Please check it out! @podcrushed for all info.” The event is for his upcoming book Crushmore, written with Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari, the co-hosts of his podcast Podcrushed.

Domino Kirke and Penn Badgley at the screening of the final series of You in 2025(Image: Taylor Hill, FilmMagicvia Getty Images)

In the accompanying video Badgley plugs the event before panning the camera to the feet of one of his newborns. “There’s tiny little baby feet right there,” he says. “I don’t want to wake them up.” He revealed in a red carpet interview back in April that the couple were expecting identical twin boys. They are already parents to a four-year-old son, while Kirke, 41, also has a son Cassius, 16, from a previous relationship. Kirke, who is a singer and doula, is the sister of Girls actress Jemima Kirke and Mozart In The Jungle star Lola Kirke.

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Actors Blake Lively and Penn Badgley attend 2009 Angel Ball
Penn starred in Gossip Girl alongside Blake Lively with both going on to have huge careers(Image: WireImage)

Celebrity Juice’s Leigh Francis ‘done’ with TV career as he rejects lucrative offers

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Lejson, who is best known for his alter ego Keith Lemon, has claimed to have turned down offers to new TV shows and has not pitched new ones for “ages” and has even turned down offers.

A Celebrity Juice star has revealed they’re not too fussed on returning to screens(Image: ITV / Talkback Thames)

A Celebrity Juice star has revealed that they’ve been turning down TV offers. Leigh Francis, the 52-year-old star best known for his outrageous alter ego Keith Lemon on the ITV2 panel show, has hinted that he might be stepping away from TV comedy.

During an Instagram Live session, he revealed to fans: “I don’t know when I’ll be on TV again. I turned something down this morning. I haven’t pitched any ideas for TV shows in ages. If I do and someone likes it, then I’ll be back, but if I don’t, I won’t.”

The comedian also expressed frustration with people calling him Keith rather than his real name, Leigh, saying, “My name is Leigh. You could also refer to me as “Tony””.

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Leigh revealed he's not been pitching any TV ideas recently
Leigh revealed he’s not been pitching any TV ideas recently(Image: BANG Showbiz)

Despite the potential backlash, he appeared more open to a sketch show despite his detractors who opposed the idea of reviving his show Through the Keyhole, saying it “will never happen.”

He continued, “You can’t make anything without upsetting people because it’s gone mad.” I can’t seem to get into this deep conversation if you think you’ll be offended, but you shouldn’t watch if you think you’ll be offended.

Bo Selecta! was ruled out by Leigh last year. from 2002 until 2009, he performed the celebrity-obsessed Avid Merrion on the sketch show. He stated in another Instagram Live conversation that it will never occur. That’s probably due to society, but it won’t ever happen. It’s a shame”.

Leigh had previously claimed that “nothing is acceptable any more” and that Celebrity Juice had been canceled. He stated in a statement to The Sun that “comedy tastes change just like fashion and flared trousers have, however, have changed as well.”

Nothing is acceptable any longer because, as we used to say, “the rules were the rules,” and they are now, so naturally there are things you can’t do anymore.

You don’t intend to offend anyone; you just want to make people laugh, but my approach requires a straightforward, light-hearted idea. Many comedians have turned their backs on comedy, according to Leigh, and are now presenting “straight shows,” which may not be as funny as sketch programs any more.

Keith was well-known for his flamboyant demeanor and crude jokes, but he also revealed that the name was the product of a childhood friendship. The comic claimed to have told the real Keith Lemon that he would give him a TV shout-out, but instead chose to create the character.

Earlier this year, though, fans pleaded for the return of Celebrity Juice after Leigh shared a string of throwback snaps alongside former stars Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton. The trio pulled out their best model poses as they leaned on a concrete wall by a ‘Celebrity Juice’ neon sign.

“Way back on Wednesday!” juice in a cup. a favorite press. Old times, excellent times. Leigh’s caption to the post, which attracted thousands of likes, reads “@celebjuiceofficial. Fans seized on the opportunity to demand that the star re-air the beloved TV show that aired on ITV2 until 2022.

One enthused user wrote, “Need to bring it back,” while another wrote, “Oh I miss you three, please, please, please bring this back.” Loved it, one fan said. We need a reunion special, another big fan requited, “bring it back with the O.G crew”! Reuniting Holly and Fearne

When TV comedy was at its worst, a nostalgic fan said! Best television program ever! loved this time! “!

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Matthews to captain England against Australia

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Pool A of the Rugby World Cup for women: England v. Australia

Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2017 Kick-off: 17:00 BST

In Zoe Aldcroft’s absence, Gloucester-Hartpury number eight Alex Matthews will lead England against Australia in their final Rugby World Cup pool match on Saturday.

Aldcroft was knocked out for the tournament-opening victory over the United States, but her knee injury kept her out until at least the knockout stages.

Head coach John Mitchell has made 13 changes from the rotated side that defeated Samoa last weekend, giving England a quarter-final spot that is already in doubt.

Claudia Moloney-MacDonald is one of those retained, and Wing Jess Breach is the one who earns her 50th cap.

Morwenna Talling, who is typically a second row, is not a member of the matchday squad, despite the absence of former skipper Marlie Packer.

As long as England doesn’t lose to the Wallaroos, a team they have defeated in all seven of their previous meetings, they will be able to claim a spot in Pool A.

The Red Roses won the most recent game 42-7 in WXV in October 2023, making it the most recent meeting for the two teams.

With a bonus point, Australia would advance to the last eight after drawing 31-31 with the United States in their final game.

If they don’t, they will hope that a stunning Eagles victory over Samoa and a comprehensive victory for England will not erase the 135-point difference between them and the USA.

We want to build on our tournament opening matches and finish the pool stage strong, Mitchell said.

England and Australia in action

England: Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach, Harrison, Hunt, Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Galligan, Ward, Talling, Kabeya, Matthews, and Dow.

A milestone in Breach’s recovery from cancer

Jess BreachImages courtesy of Getty

Breach will reach the milestone of 50 caps when she wins her 50th against Australia, adding to her previous tally for England by a hat-trick of tries against Samoa last weekend.

The 27-year-old will undoubtedly receive a warm welcome on the south coast after beginning her career at nearby Pulborough RFC.

The top-tier speed and finishing ability of Breach have always been present. On her first Test debut against Canada in 2017, she scored six tries before adding five more.

However, she only made two appearances in England’s Women’s Six Nations earlier this year, with Moloney-MacDonald and Abby Dow emerging as Mitchell’s preferred wings after returning from a serious hip injury.

In Aldcroft’s absence, back row shuffle.

Morwenna TallingImages courtesy of Getty

England could have used substantial reserves of specialist back row options to fill the void left by Aldcroft.

Talling, who played a role for England last year in WXV in Canada, has been asked to do so.

Maddie Feaunati is kept as an impact option off the bench rather than a starter, keeping her experience aside from Marlie Packer’s.

Matthews has a wealth of leadership experience, including being a veteran of England’s 2014 World Cup victory and twice in the last three years.

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England U17s win stopped twice over ‘racist abuse’

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Following reports of racist abuse, England Under-17s’ 2-1 friendly victory over Venezuela was postponed twice.

While the referee handled the incidents, the players left the Duisburg, Germany, pitch during the second half.

Although it’s not known which opposition team player the abuse was directed at, BBC Sport has been informed that it was allegedly committed by one or more of the players.

As they left, England manager Liam Bramley offered a consolation to his players.

“We are presently negotiating next steps with the organizers of the tournament and the relevant authorities.”

England came out of a draw with a win thanks to Brian Madjo of Metz and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen of Chelsea.

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