Network Times

Pope Leo XIV has become the first sitting pope known to have voted in a United States general election after casting a mail-in ballot ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed on Friday, October 30, that the Chicago-born pontiff had exercised his voting rights as an American citizen, marking an unusual moment in the history of the Catholic Church. In a statement, the Holy See Press Office said the Pope had submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago in line with his longstanding participation in democratic processes. “Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” the statement said. The Vatican added that the pontiff had also voted during his years of residence in Peru whenever he qualified to participate in elections. It said the Pope believed that citizens had both a right and a responsibility to take part in democratic processes. The development is particularly significant because Leo XIV is the first American-born pope and currently leads the worldwide Catholic Church from the Vatican. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, the pontiff remains a United States citizen despite his election as head of the Catholic Church in May 2025. He is registered to vote in New Lenox, a community in Will County, Illinois. Reports had earlier indicated that he requested a mail-in ballot on October 3 before the Vatican confirmed that he had submitted it. His participation was made possible through voting arrangements available to eligible American citizens living outside the country. These provisions allow overseas citizens to take part in federal elections through mail-in voting. Records of his previous participation show that Prevost voted in several American elections before becoming pope. He took part in Democratic primaries in 2008 and 2010 and Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016. However, the records do not reveal which candidates he supported. Illinois voters can request the ballot of either party during primary elections without registering permanently as members of that party. The 2026 United States midterm elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the 100-member Senate are being contested. Voters will also elect governors in 36 states, alongside numerous state and local officials. The results will determine the political balance in Congress during the remaining two years of President Donald Trump’s current term. The Pope’s participation has attracted attention because of his position as a religious leader and his continued connection to American civic life. His vote also comes amid public disagreements between him and Trump over issues including immigration and the war in Iran. Leo has previously spoken against war and called for peace, while also expressing concern about the treatment of migrants. Trump has publicly criticised some of the Pope’s positions.…

Foreign

Badenoch Condemns Nigerian Scammer Remark as Racist

October 30, 2026

Ranti Thomas

British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has condemned a remark describing her as a “Nigerian scammer”, accusing political figures linked to Reform UK of using her Nigerian heritage to attack her. Badenoch made her position known during an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following comments by Raheem Kassam, a former senior aide to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Kassam had described Badenoch as an “unrelenting scammer” and questioned why people continued to support her, adding a reference to her Nigerian background. In a separate post, he wrote: “How are people still falling for this Nigerian scammer? Don’t give her your credit card number and bank account details!” Reacting to the comments, Badenoch described them as racist and accused those making such remarks of attempting to turn her background into a political weapon. She said she believed the references to her race were intended to improve the political standing of those attacking her. “Britain is not a racist country, and because it’s not a racist country, their racist attacks and using my race as an attack form is not going to work,” she said. Badenoch also criticised Reform UK politicians for concentrating on attacking her instead of discussing policies that could improve the lives of British citizens. The controversy also drew attention to Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman, after he declined to describe Kassam’s remarks as racist. During an ITV interview, Jenrick said he did not consider the comments racist, although he acknowledged that they could be unpleasant or rude. He argued that he was not responsible for policing every social media post made by people who might support Reform UK. “It’s not my place to police everybody’s tweets who may or may not be a supporter of Reform,” he said. Jenrick also referred to a separate controversy involving Badenoch’s claim that she received an offer from Stanford University at the age of 16 to study a pre-medical course. Badenoch has maintained that she received the offer but said she no longer has the relevant documents. The claim had previously attracted questions following a report by The Guardian. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was also questioned about Kassam’s remarks during an interview on BBC Breakfast. Farage rejected the suggestion that the comments were deliberately racist, arguing that referring to someone’s upbringing in Nigeria did not automatically make a remark racist.…

Sports

Osimhen Welcomes Baby Girl

October 30, 2026

Ranti Thomas

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen and his partner, Stefanie Kim Ladewig, have welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Liora Audrey, adding a new chapter to the footballer’s family life. Osimhen’s Turkish club, Galatasaray, announced the arrival on Thursday through its official social media platforms, congratulating the couple and wishing their newborn daughter a healthy and happy life. In its message, the club confirmed that Osimhen and Stefanie had welcomed a baby girl and described the birth as a joyful moment for the family. The newborn is the couple’s second child. They are already parents to a daughter, Hailey, and the arrival of Liora Audrey means their family has grown to four. The announcement attracted attention from football supporters in Nigeria and Turkey, with fans celebrating the latest development in the life of the Nigerian international. The news also comes shortly after Ladewig was reportedly involved in a road accident in Istanbul earlier this month while pregnant. She was said to have escaped without injuries. Reports indicated that the incident involved multiple vehicles, prompting concern because of her pregnancy. She was reportedly taken for medical checks as a precaution and later discharged. The safe arrival of the baby has therefore brought welcome news following the earlier accident. Osimhen, 27, remains one of Nigeria’s leading football figures and currently plays for Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig. The striker has continued to feature prominently for the Istanbul club, where his goals and performances have made him an important part of the team’s attacking plans. He is expected to link up with his teammates ahead of Galatasaray’s upcoming league fixture against Konyaspor. The birth comes at a busy period in Osimhen’s football career, but the announcement has shifted attention briefly from his performances on the pitch to the growing family he shares with Ladewig. Galatasaray’s public message has also reflected the club’s support for its player beyond football, as supporters joined in celebrating the arrival of Liora Audrey. For Osimhen, the birth of his second daughter marks another important personal milestone as he continues his career in Turkey and represents Nigeria on the international stage.

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Tinubu Moves to Strengthen Petroleum Regulation With Six NMDPRA Nominees

October 30, 2026

Ranti Thomas

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of six executive director nominees of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Senate for confirmation, in a move aimed at strengthening the agency’s leadership and regulatory capacity. The nominations, announced on Friday, October 30, 2026, comprise three serving directors seeking reappointment and three new nominees. If confirmed by the Senate, all six will serve five-year terms. The development comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to strengthen institutions responsible for regulating Nigeria’s petroleum industry, particularly the midstream and downstream sectors. The three directors nominated for another term are Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director of Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community. The three new nominees are Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, nominated as Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ogechukwu Modie, nominated as Executive Director of Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Said Abutalib, nominated as Executive Director of Corporate Services and Administration. Their nominations were conveyed to the Senate in a letter from the President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu urged the Senate to consider the nominations expeditiously, stressing the need to maintain institutional continuity and strengthen the authority’s oversight responsibilities. The proposed appointments cover important areas of the petroleum regulatory system, including financial management, infrastructure, economic regulation, environmental safety and corporate administration. The role of the NMDPRA is particularly important because the authority oversees activities in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors. These include aspects of gas processing and transportation, petroleum product distribution, storage and retail operations. Its regulatory responsibilities also extend to ensuring compliance with industry standards, monitoring operators and promoting safety across facilities and infrastructure under its supervision. The selection of three returning directors alongside three new nominees combines continuity in existing leadership with appointments to other key positions. In a related development, Tinubu approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board and Authority and Legal Adviser. Her appointment is subject to the completion of statutory requirements under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act. Gafar’s appointment is expected to provide legal and administrative support to the authority’s board and management structure. The latest nominations follow the President’s appointment of Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive of the NMDPRA in April 2026. The Senate’s consideration of the six nominees will determine whether they can formally assume the proposed positions for the next five years. The appointments are expected to shape the authority’s leadership as Nigeria continues to implement reforms in the petroleum sector and strengthen regulation of activities involving petroleum products, gas infrastructure and distribution networks.

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