The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said it was “not an open gate for everyone” to file an appeal against acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, and sought details if family members of the victims were examined as witnesses in the trial, reported news agency PTI.
A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing an appeal filed by the family members of the six persons who lost their lives in the blast against the acquittal judgment, reported PTI.
The appeal challenged a special court judgment acquitting the seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit.
The HC bench on Tuesday sought to know if the family members were examined as witnesses in the trial.
The family members` advocate told the bench that the first appellant, Nisar Ahmed, whose son died in the blast, was not a witness in the trial, but said he would submit the details on Wednesday.
The bench then said if the appellant`s son died in the blast, then he (Nisar Ahmed) should have been a witness.
“You (appellants) have to indicate whether they were witnesses or not. Give us details. This is not an open gate for everyone,” HC said, reported PTI.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.
The appeal filed last week claimed a faulty investigation or some defects in the probe cannot be the ground for acquitting the accused. It also contended that the conspiracy (of the blast) was hatched in secrecy and hence, there cannot be direct evidence of it.
The petitioners claimed the order passed by the special NIA court on July 31, acquitting the seven accused, was wrong and bad in law and hence deserved to be quashed.
On September 29, 2008, an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon town, located about 200 km from Mumbai in Maharashtra`s Nashik district, killing six persons and injuring 101 others.
The appeal said the trial court judge should not act as a “postman or mute spectator” in a criminal trial. When the prosecution failed to elicit facts, the trial court can ask questions and/or summon witnesses, it added, reported PTI.
“The trial court has unfortunately acted as a mere post office and allowed a deficient prosecution to benefit the accused,” the appeal said, reported PTI.
It also raised concerns over the manner in which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted the probe and trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and sought for the accused to be convicted.
The state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), by arresting the seven persons, unearthed a large conspiracy and since then, there has been no blast in areas populated by the minority community, the appeal said.
It claimed the NIA, after taking over the 2008 Malegaon blast case, diluted the allegations against the accused persons.
The special court had, in its judgment, said mere suspicion cannot replace real proof and there was no cogent or reliable evidence to warrant a conviction.
Special judge A K Lahoti, presiding over the NIA court, had said there was no “reliable and cogent evidence” against the accused that proved the 2008 Malegaon blast case beyond a reasonable doubt, reported PTI.
The prosecution`s case was that the blast was carried out by right-wing extremists with the intention to terrorise the Muslim community in the communally sensitive Malegaon town.
The NIA court, in its judgment, had flagged several loopholes in the prosecution`s case and the investigation carried out, and said the accused persons deserved the benefit of doubt, reported PTI.
Besides Thakur and Purohit, the accused included Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni.
“I mean, I kind of knew. I had a slow start last year,” he told ESPN last week. “There are so many great players in Canada. Even if I went out and played great and didn’t make the team, it’s not like I was going to be butt-hurt.”
Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres took it a little more personally when Team USA passed him over for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Going into the second half of the season, it was extra motivation to show them that I could play,” he said. “That maybe I did belong out there. I used it to fuel my game and push it in the right direction.”
Apparently, trying to earn the chance to represent one’s country in a best-on-best tournament is a heck of a motivator. Thompson had 24 points in 27 games for the Sabres following the 4 Nations break, with 18 goals.
Dozens of NHL players enter the 2025-26 season with Olympic aspirations. The NHL is returning to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014, taking a break in its season so players can chase gold in Italy next February.
While many players from the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters for Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland will carry over to their respective Olympic rosters, executives such as Team USA GM Bill Guerin have said that the 4 Nations group was “probably not gonna be the exact lineup that we take to the Olympics.”
That’s good news for players such as Clayton Keller, the Utah Mammoth forward who was left off the 4 Nations roster and, like Thompson, wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.
“Obviously I was upset, but I used it as motivation,” Keller said. “I think I played my best hockey of the year after that. We really came out strong and made a push for the playoffs”
THOMPSON WAS PERHAPS the most significant snub from the Team USA 4 Nations roster. That he was added as an injury replacement reserve for the championship game against Canada underscored how close he was to making the cut.
Thompson watched that game in Boston. Watched as the U.S. lost in overtime, 3-2, unable to break through against goalie Jordan Binnington before Connor McDavid ended the game and secured the gold medal for Canada.
“Obviously, I would’ve loved to be out there and be a guy to help them win,” he said. “But I don’t pick the team. I’m just playing and doing my job on the ice.”
When Team USA was constructed for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Guerin and his management team opted for veteran depth forwards with potential as two-way players — such as Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson — rather than bringing on younger players better known for their offense.
One reason was their versatility, as players such as Nelson and Trocheck have thrived in different roles in the NHL. Guerin said it’s an adjustment for star players when they join a best-on-best team and are no longer getting their usual ice time and offensive looks.
“You have to check your ego at the door. That happens on any championship team. I feel like we had that in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey team,” Guerin told ESPN. “You just have to do things that you’re not used to doing. Play roles that you’re not used to playing or the minutes that you’re not used to playing. You have to accept that.”
Another reason players such as Keller and Thompson were overlooked was a lack of championship tournament experience. Thompson has never appeared in a Stanley Cup playoff game after eight seasons — seven of them with Buffalo. Keller has appeared only once in the NHL postseason, playing nine games with Arizona during the empty-arena COVID bubble playoffs in 2020.
Both players sought to boost their résumés by playing on the U.S. team in the 2025 IIHF world championships last spring, when the Americans captured their first title since 1960. Guerin put a premium on having players who might be on the Olympic bubble play in worlds.
Not only were Thompson and Keller there, but so were hopefuls such as defensemen Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, both of whom were on the 4 Nations roster. Younger players such as Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic parlayed their world championship experience into Team USA Olympic orientation camp invites in August.
While Thompson and Keller both said their focus is on their respective NHL seasons, they can’t ignore the Olympic carrot dangling in front of them.
“I think it’s something super cool and exciting and something to play for, and I’m just going to play my game and let the rest take care of itself,” said Keller, who led Utah with 90 points in 81 games last season. “I’m not stressing about it.”
“You don’t want to think about it too much. I feel like my priority is helping our team win in Buffalo. If I do that, then everything just falls into place,” said Thompson, who was Buffalo’s leading scorer with 44 goals in 76 games. “The Olympics is a big goal of mine. It’s something I’ve wanted to be able to do for a long time. So to make the team would be something pretty special. But you don’t want to put too much thought into it.”
Bedard, entering his third season in the NHL after being drafted first overall by Chicago in 2023, opted not to play for Team Canada at IIHF worlds this year. His focus was on his skating and other developmental work in the offseason. Despite Canada’s considerable depth at forward, Bedard is keeping his Olympic hopes alive, having attended orientation camp in August.
“It’d be incredible. It’s not something I think about now too much. I just want to go into camp and have a good start, personally and as a team, and then you see what happens,” said Bedard, who had 67 points in 82 games to led Chicago last season.
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson‘s name was circulated among fans after the Americans — and specifically the Tkachuk brothers — mucked things up at 4 Nations. In fact, Wilson fought Brady Tkachuk in a game against the Ottawa Senators a few weeks after the tournament.
While Olympic rules likely mean there won’t be another punch-up between Canada and the U.S., Wilson did earn a Team Canada Olympic orientation camp invite this summer after being left off the 4 Nations roster.
“It was cool. It’s an impressive group of guys, to say the least. It really makes you want to put your head down and just work as hard as you can to put yourself in the conversation for making the Olympic team,” Wilson said. “When you’re a kid, it’s the Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal. That’s everything. That’s your biggest, wildest dreams. But you look around that [camp] room, every guy beside you wants it just as much as you do — and it’s the best players in the league.”
Wilson believes that the first few months of the 2025-26 season will see players with Winter Games dreams working extra hard to make a final impression.
“For all those Olympic hopefuls, you don’t have a lot of opportunity to gracefully dip your toes in the water to start the year. It’s a small runway before they started announcing rosters and stuff like that,” he said. “You better believe every guy that was in the conversation this summer was working really hard to start well.”
MAKING AN OLYMPIC ROSTER means taking a roster spot from someone who played in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim played three games for Team Canada at 4 Nations, and competed for the Canadians at IIHF worlds, where they were stunned in the quarterfinals by Denmark.
“Obviously, 4 Nations was something that was a privilege to be on. I probably wasn’t thinking about it a couple years ago, and just the last couple seasons I put myself in that situation,” Sanheim said.
The work doesn’t stop just because he made that roster. Sanheim was one of 14 defensemen who attended Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp. He’s considered on the bubble for the 2026 Winter Games.
“I think Canada’s such a deep team and the guys that are competing for those roster spots — you could take about 20 guys to fill, what is it, eight spots? So it’s going to be a challenge,” Sanheim said. “The Olympics are something that I’m striving towards and want to be a part of. It’s exciting to have that opportunity.”
Patrick Kane has had that opportunity twice, winning silver in 2010 and losing bronze in 2014 for the Americans. The 36-year-old winger’s absence from Team USA’s 4 Nations roster wasn’t a surprise, as Kane himself admitted his play last season didn’t warrant a selection. However, his presence at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in August was a surprise to some, although not to Kane.
“They told my agent there’s the potential of maybe making the team. That I was under consideration. So when you hear that, it’s not really that big of a surprise that you’re there,” he said.
Kane said the real surprise was that his Detroit Red Wings teammate Alex DeBrincat wasn’t invited to camp after not making the 4 Nations cut either.
“I think both of us have some motivation to get off to good starts this year,” he said.
Kane remembers back in 2010 when he was a 21-year-old star on the U.S. Olympic team, surrounded by veteran national team members such as Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Rafalski. Now, he would be that elder statesman should he make the cut for 2026. But like every other NHL player that hasn’t formally been named to an Olympic roster, Kane knows he must earn it.
“I want to get to a point where obviously you put yourself in consideration for the team just on your play, right? Not for your name or what you’ve done in the past,” Kane said. “That’s the goal going into this year.”
Barcelona, who have made the last five finals (winning three) landed a draw that sees them face Bayern, Chelsea, Benfica, Roma, OH Leuven and Paris FC.
But which teams were happy? Which were sad? And what other storylines will there be in the league phase this season?
It was a good draw for …
Chelsea
Getting Barcelona out of the way early is the best-case scenario for Chelsea. It won’t be an easy game, but at least it shakes the cobwebs off before possibly facing them in the knockouts for what could be a fourth consecutive season. Other than the Spanish champions, the Blues, who are reigning English title holders, should secure comfortable wins. Wolfsburg and Roma will tough, but their other opponents are quite far behind in their development and it would be a shock if Sonia Bompastor’s side didn’t make the knockouts.
Barcelona
Is there such thing as a hard draw for Barcelona? The Spanish juggernauts have defeated every opponent they’ve faced and are sure to be contenders to make another final. Bayern and Chelsea have both beaten them before, but Barca went on to win the UWCL title in both those seasons. Roma and Paris FC have struggled in previous group stages and this is OL Leuven’s first crack at European football, so Barcelona have landed a pretty decent run considering they could have faced the likes of OL Lyonnes or Arsenal. They’re short on squad depth, but will be out for revenge, having lost to Arsenal in the final last season.
OL Lyonnes
Things should be fairly smooth for OL Lyonnes after a summer of large investment into the squad. Arsenal, Wolfsburg and Juventus are known opponents and Atletico Madrid, St Polten and Manchester United are unlikely to cause much trouble against a well-established side who are eight-time winners of the competition. One of the most competitive and well organized sides in Europe, the format change also works in OL Lyonnes’ favor as they’ve switched off in some second legs in recent seasons. Don’t expect that to happen this year.
It was a bad draw for …
Bayern Munich
With games against Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus and PSG, it could not have gone much worse for the German champions. Though Bayern have played all these teams before, a draw against three-time winners and reigning champions is less than ideal. Juve and PSG have fallen out of favor in recent seasons but having rebuilt and regained some pedigree, it will not be easy. Vålerenga could also be a tough side to break down and although it has been a while since Atletico Madrid have featured in the competition, their domestic form this season — second to Barcelona in Liga F — proves that they could create some issues.
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg are not the force they once were — having struggled since their 2023 final appearance and failing to make the competition in 2024 — and while they play a Manchester United side who have never played in the Champions League and a Vålerenga that finished bottom of their group last season, the German giants also landed Real Madrid, PSG, OL Lyonnes and Chelsea. It is arguably one of the hardest sets of fixtures and this league phase campaign could accelerate Wolfsburg’s fall from grace.
Manchester United
As debutants and one of the lowest-ranked teams based on UEFA coefficient, having only featured in the qualifiers once before, United were never going to get an easy ride. They avoided Barcelona and could not have been drawn against domestic rivals Chelsea or Arsenal, who they play in the WSL on Sunday, but will face a tricky introduction to life among the top 18 teams in Europe as they landed Wolfsburg, OL Lyonnes, PSG and Juventus .Vålerenga and Atletico are not easy either and it could be a harsh learning curve for an inexperienced team struggling for squad depth.
Emotional reunion or unwelcome home?
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps is set to return to Leigh Sports Village with new club Paris Saint-Germain, but her reception back in Manchester may be less than warm. The 32-year-old spent five years at United, making more than 100 appearances, but left on a free transfer under something of a cloud in summer 2024 when she remarked that the club’s “period of transition” didn’t align with her career goals, adding that she wanted to “be in a position to win silverware.”
Earps announced her retirement from international football this year, just weeks before England’s ultimately successful attempt to defend their European crown at Euro 2025, and was also absent from PSG’s campaign in the World 7s tournament, which featured her former side. Whether she is between the sticks for the UWCL game remains to be seen, but it might not be the reunion she wanted.
Meanwhile, the new format has offered up several high-stakes showdowns early in the competition, including repeat clashes from last season’s semifinals. Chelsea once again meet long-time nemesis Barcelona, the side that have blocked their path to the final for three consecutive seasons, and Arsenal are again paired with OL Lyonnes, the team they overcame in the semifinals last season.
The Gunners had to put in a stellar 4-1 comeback after losing the first leg 2-1, but there will be no chance of that in the league phase as every match is decisive. And history doesn’t ease Chelsea’s nerves either: the last time they faced Barcelona in a single-leg game, the 2019 final, the Spanish side struck four goals in the first half to seal a ruthless 4-0 win. A lot has changed at Chelsea since then and it may be a good chance to assess their main rivals early, but it doesn’t feel like a reunion they wanted either.
Underdogs to cause a surprise?
Vålerenga may not be a household name, but they could be contenders for the knockouts despite being in Pot 3. The Norwegian side reached the group stage last season but finished bottom in a brutal draw alongside Arsenal, Juventus and OL Lyonnes. This time, however, they’ve avoided the so-called “big four” (Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and OL Lyonnes) and instead face Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich from Pot 1.
Both are teams formidable, but far from invincible: Wolfsburg failed to progress past the qualifying round two seasons ago, while Bayern exited at the group stage. The rest of their draw is much kinder, pitting them against Roma, St. Pölten, Paris FC, and Manchester United. And, with every game key, a few strong results and dropped points elsewhere could be enough to push Vålerenga through.
Adding to their motivation is the fact that the UWCL final will be staged in their hometown of Oslo this season. While the 28,000-seat Ullevaal Stadion is modest compared with recent hosts, the prospect of contesting a European final on home soil will make Vålerenga all the more determined to get there.
Must-see matches of the league phase
Chelsea vs. Barcelona: There is a fierce history between the two clubs, as they have faced each other in the semifinals for the past three seasons. All three have ended in a Barcelona victory, and so did the 2019 final between the pair which ended 4-0. In the old format, they couldn’t have faced each other until the knockout rounds, but this year the clash arrives early and that may play into Chelsea’s hands. They’ve managed to win first legs against Barcelona before, only to falter in the return fixture. With no second chance this time, the Blues might see opportunity in the new format. Chelsea have strengthened in the transfer market already, while Barcelona have seen an exodus that has left their squad depth uncharacteristically thin.
Arsenal vs. OL Lyonnes: In another repeat of old foes, the reigning champions face the eight-time winners again after the pair met in last season’s semifinal; they also played against each other in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 group stage, with the Gunners coming out on top. Last year, Arsenal needed a wonderful comeback to progress, but over one leg, it could be completely different. OL Lyonnes will have to get it right straight away but they will have the home advantage.
OL Lyonnes vs. Man United: While eyes will be on United’s meeting with French giants PSG and the return of Earps, OL Lyonnes will be an interesting test too. Manager Marc Skinner has a dangerously thin squad, which has been hit by recent injuries and made worse by a lackluster transfer window. A game against the eight-time champions, with a squad that has almost double the depth, look tough for United. Without much support in the window, Skinner wants the team to “really push into our own way of doing it,” but that might be their undoing against top clubs like OL Lyonnes.
OL Leuven vs. Arsenal: A real “David and Goliath” story. Arsenal, a club with such a rich European history (who first won the competition in the 2006-07 season), face debutants OL Leuven in their first European campaign. The King Power At Den Dreef Stadium has been used for Belgium women’s home games and England have played there in the past two UEFA Nations League campaigns, so there will be some familiarity for Arsenal’s Lionesses.
Other big clubs’ fortunes in a sentence
Arsenal: As reigning champions there is a target on their back and their draw is pretty evenly matched. After winning the trophy last season, they should have invested enough to punish the less-experienced sides and though they’ll have to be solid to make it through, they have an easier draw than most.
Juventus: They know OL Lyonnes and Bayern Munich well, and have two inexperienced teams in Man United and Atletico Madrid, so it was a fairly good draw for Juve. But they will need to be close to perfect to progress.
PSG: Another balanced draw saw them land Real Madrid and both German giants. But they’ve also got both debutants, Man United and OL Leuven, so should pick up several wins. Ultimately it will be down to their ability to compete against the top teams that could be their undoing.
Real Madrid: Arguably one of the hardest draws from the teams in Pot 2 landed Madrid with Arsenal, Wolfsburg, Roma and PSG. With four of their six games against some of the main contenders, they can’t afford to drop too many points and it will be a true test of whether their recent off-pitch turbulence has derailed them.
A violent protest was reported in Tejuosho Market after hoodlums were said to have attacked security operatives
An attempted invasion of a commercial bank was repelled by Lagos policemen stationed within the market
Eighteen suspects were also confirmed arrested as calm was restored and further investigations were announced
The Lagos state Police Command says it has restored calm at Tejuosho Market Phase II, Surulere, after hoodlums and miscreants went on a rampage on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
Police repel bank invasion at Tejuosho, arrest 18 amid market riot. Photo credit: peteerv, X/@LagosPoliceNG Source: Getty Images
According to the statement by the command signed by DSP Babaseyi B. Oluseyi, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, the suspects mobilised “under the guise of protesting a power outage” but went on to destroy property and attack security personnel.
“Some sections of the bank premises [were] damaged and police personnel on guard duty at the bank within the market [were] attacked,” the statement shared via X on Friday, September 19 read.
The police explained that a distress call was received at about 2:30pm, reporting that hoodlums were “attacking people, damaging goods and properties in Tejuosho Market.”
It added that “the hoodlums attacked Mobile Policemen guarding a commercial bank within the market who firmly repelled them and prevented them from invading the bank.”
The command said the attackers also attempted to storm the Market Police Post but were stopped by security operatives.
Security operatives restore peace after violent protest
On getting the report, Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, deployed more officers including conventional policemen and tactical squads to the scene.
“The operatives successfully dispersed the hoodlums and miscreants and arrested eighteen (18) of the suspects in the act of the violence and mayhem they caused in Tejuosho Market,” the statement added.
Lagos police thwart attempted bank attack, restore calm at Tejuosho Market. Photo credit: @LagosPoliceNG Source: Twitter
The police confirmed that the 18 suspects are in custody while investigations are ongoing. They would be prosecuted once investigations are concluded, the command said.
“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to assure members of the general public and traders in Tejuosho Market and other markets in Lagos State that normalcy has been fully restored and the situation is under control. People are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses peacefully without fear of apprehension.”
Reassuring residents, CP Jimoh warned that “violent attacks on police personnel and destruction of property will not be tolerated.” He urged Lagosians “to show utmost respect to the police personnel in the discharge of their responsibility of protecting lives and property.”
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock faced questions after a video showed him holding what looked like a gun, sparking strong reactions from Nigerians online.
The Lagos State Police Command later said he was not guilty of any crime. They explained the object was a stun gun, not a firearm. Police added that Adefarasin appeared voluntarily for questioning.
Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said no one is above the law but confirmed the matter has been closed. The decision has stirred mixed reactions, with some Nigerians asking if stun guns are now allowed.
Police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against seven persons arrested in connection with the murder of two cousins in Thane district last month, officials said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI.
The seven accused, including the main perpetrator Vicky Mhatre, were part of an organised criminal gang involved in a series of violent crimes over the past decade, district Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr D S Swami said while sharing an update on the Thane double murder case, reported PTI.
The gang allegedly targeted 42-year-old Praful Tangdi due to previous enmity and monitored his movements before fatally attacking him on August 11, he said.
Tangdi was attacked inside his office at Khardi village in Bhiwandi with swords and other weapons. When his cousin and office staff member Chetan Tangdi (22) tried to intervene and save him, he too was assaulted and killed by the accused, the police said in a release, reported PTI.
The Bhiwandi Taluka police initially registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.
Following the registration of the case, the police launched a massive manhunt, deploying multiple teams and leveraging both intelligence and technical surveillance to track down the suspects. All seven accused were subsequently arrested in the Thane double murder case, reported PTI.
“Upon investigating their criminal backgrounds, we found these individuals had been involved in serious and heinous crimes since 2013. Their offences include unlawful assembly, assault, attempt to murder, and illegal possession of weapons. The consistent pattern of criminal behavior indicated that they operated as a structured gang, which warranted the application of MCOCA,” the SP stated while sharing update on the Thane double murder case, reported PTI.
The police were probing the extent of the gang`s criminal network and its possible links to other cases.
Thane MACT awards Rs 62.19 lakh compensation to kin of man killed in tanker collision
In another case, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra`s Thane district has awarded Rs 62.19 lakh to the family of a 39-year-old man killed in a tanker accident in 2019, reported PTI.
MACT member R V Mohite directed the tanker owner and the insurer, The New India Assurance Co., to jointly and severally pay the compensation with 9 per cent interest from the date of the petition, reported PTI.
A copy of the order passed on September 11 was made available on Sunday.
The deceased man`s family had initially sought compensation of Rs 1 crore.
Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
THE INTERMITTENT FASTING was put on hold for a few hours.
As the dishes were served in Katowice, Poland — a salad for Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss; fish for Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka; and a steak and vegetables, plus a salad, for the man they flew more than 6,000 miles to see — the Lakers’ traveling representatives made it clear over a long lunch in late August that if something was important to Luka Doncic, then it was important to them, too.
The 26-year-old superstar was preparing to put his trimmed-down body, honed by months of intense workouts and dietary discipline (including a daily 16-hour fasting window), to the test for his national team, competing for Slovenia in EuroBasket a month ahead of training camp for the next NBA season.
And the Lakers intended for their endorsement of him playing in EuroBasket to resonate — loud and clear.
“Luka has a tremendous amount of heartfelt pride and appreciation for his roots and playing for his country,” Pelinka told ESPN. “I just think in the partnerships we have with our players, the Lakers want to be mindful of players’ passions and who they are as men and then lean in and support those things. So, around Luka, it was a very easy partnership decision that we wanted to support.”
Beyond the opportunity to build trust between the player who inked a three-year, $165 million contract extension Aug. 2 and team brass, EuroBasket was a chance for the organization to establish best practices to align with its new star — an opportunity the team didn’t have in the wake of February’s shocking trade with the Dallas Mavericks.
There was a group chat before and after every game that included Pelinka and Dr. Leroy Sims, the Lakers director of player performance and health, and Lara Beth Seager, Doncic’s chief brand officer and business manager, and Javy Barrio, Doncic’s physiotherapist.
The general tone of the Lakers’ messages to Doncic’s crew? “‘Hey, whatever we can do to help, we’re here,’” a source close to Doncic told ESPN.
Dr. Sims made the trip to Poland, as did longtime Lakers stakeholders Kurt and Linda Rambis. Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean joined Slovenia’s staff as an assistant and spent 40 days with the team through the tourney with games in Slovenia, Germany, Poland and Latvia. The Lakers even made their equipment manager available as a resource for Slovenia, sources said, when Doncic’s team needed gear.
Doncic’s desire to play for his country, and his public dedication to radically reshape his physique, showed his new level of ownership over his career, after a trade that was out of his control.
The Lakers knew, to prove their belief in and appreciation for Doncic, they needed to demonstrate commensurate investment.
And the return, they hope, will come not only in the final days of LeBron James‘ tenure, but extend far past it in the role they want Doncic to fill for the franchise.
AS THE LAKERS cheered him on, Doncic dominated EuroBasket.
He was named to the All-Star Five for the tournament, and averaged 34.7 points per game — the most by a player in a single EuroBasket since Nikos Galis averaged 35.6 points for Greece in 1989.
Doncic recorded more points (243) than minutes played (233) and elevated his game in the knockout rounds — averaging 40.5 points in two win-or-go-home games.
In Slovenia’s 99-91 quarterfinals loss to Germany, the eventual gold medal winner, Doncic’s team led for 26 of the 40 minutes. Germany trailed for only 18 minutes total in its six games in the tournament before facing Slovenia.
The Lakers’ coaching staff, team sources said, was impressed with how Doncic was moving compared with how he played in the second half of last season, when he was slowed because of a lingering calf strain. His improvement showed in Doncic’s quickness in splitting double-teams. It showed in his lift off the floor.
It even showed defensively, long a wart on what is already a Hall of Fame résumé.
At one point during the tournament, sources told ESPN, St. Jean showed a video edit of Doncic’s defensive effort to Slovenia’s coach, Aleksander Sekulić. St. Jean believed that Doncic, beyond his offensive brilliance, was the team’s best defensive player, too. The edit showed — possession by possession — Doncic’s proper placement, communication with teammates and overall commitment.
Pelinka saw it, too and registered it as an advancement in Doncic’s leadership ability.
“Players playing basketball in the offseason is something that, from a leadership standpoint, I support,” Pelinka said. “I think you could say in some sense that some of the offseason and sort of the current basketball lens, especially in the States, is on individual work. And I think that sort of the team environment can get lost.”
It was part of the cost-benefit analysis that Pelinka considered when endorsing Doncic’s EuroBasket participation. Yes, more basketball and additional activity could put a player at risk of injury — a fear that came to fruition when a teammate fell into his leg against Latvia on Aug. 16 and Doncic suffered a right knee contusion.
Still, Pelinka said, he’d make the same decision.
“There’s risk in anything,” he said. “There’s risks in over-individualized training and wearing muscles down that way, or joints down that way. Luka’s incredibly thoughtful about how he approaches his way to improve as a basketball player. And I think you can tell he is the highest form of himself when he is in a competitive environment. That’s just what animates him.”
WITH TRAINING CAMP opening later this month, Doncic and the Lakers see his EuroBasket summer as a perfect setup for the season ahead.
Doncic had led a Slovenian team filled with, as one league source described to ESPN, players mostly below NCAA Division I-level talent to the quarterfinals of one of the most competitive tournaments in the world. What could he do, in a full season, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves?
While Doncic and the Lakers used the summer to demonstrate their commitment to one another, the season will bring new challenges to meet each of their expectations.
Doncic has struggled to maintain healthy habits within the rigors of an 82-game season, constant travel and managing the stress that comes from losses (or even the joys from wins). And for Pelinka and the Lakers, it’s one thing to put together an international itinerary; it’s quite another to put together a deal to improve this star-laden roster, and figure out the trade assets to do so.
Still, the summer provided a stable foundation ahead of whatever rocky terrain both sides might have to navigate.
The experience, Doncic told ESPN, already made him feel more connected to L.A.
“The support from the Lakers organization and Laker Nation [was] amazing,” he said. “It meant so much to me that Rob, Jeanie, Kurt, Linda and Dr. Sims came to Poland and that Lakers fans were watching EuroBasket and cheering for Slovenia.”
And Doncic’s play was a reminder to the Lakers that there’s no time to wait for the LeBron Era to end before building the Luka one.
“Luka’s play in EuroBasket made it clear to the entire basketball world that he’s on that incredibly short list of ‘best player on the planet’ candidates, if not at the top,” Pelinka said. “In terms of team building, we’ve talked about the importance of having optionality and when I use that word, it’s not to say in the future. I think optionality is also in the now. Having both Luka as arguably the best player on the planet and LeBron James, who is still in the mix of being one of the great players in our game, even at his age, continues to allow us to think carefully about the value of that optionality.”
L.A. will open training camp with 14 players on the roster, including Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million) and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) on expiring contracts. They can include one of their 2031 or 2032 first-round picks in a potential deal. And with Doncic signed long term, the Lakers are open to trading for a player on a contract that extends beyond 2026, sources told ESPN.
“If there are smart ways to pour into our championship aspirations for next year, we will execute on those,” Pelinka said. “And we see having those two players on our team next year [as] an important moment, and we’ll continue to try to do all we can to deliver this franchise its 18th championship.”
Coming off this summer of matched investment toward that goal, there is certainly alignment.
“He stresses every single day that his goal is to win a championship,” a source close to Doncic told ESPN. “He trusts the front office to do their part, and he trusts what they’re building.”
Chief Yemi, the elder brother of late Nollywood actor Chief Kanran, cleared the air on what really happened.
According to him, the veteran star reportedly danced with joy at a church programme a day before his passing.
Details revealed that he suddenly slumped in the bathroom, leaving fans and family in shock
The Nigerian movie industry was thrown into mourning after the sudden death of veteran actor, Chief Kanran.
The legendary actor died on August 15 at the age of 70.
Weeks later, his elder brother, Chief Yemi, has come forward to shed light on what truly happened.
Contrary to speculation that the late actor had been battling an illness, his brother made it clear that Chief Kanran was in good health before his passing.
Chief Kanran’s brother says he died in the bathroom. Photos: UGC. Source: Instagram
Speaking with Feelfree News TV, Yemi revealed that the actor had even attended a church programme on the Friday before his death, where witnesses said he danced energetically.
“He was not sick. The Friday preceding the day he died, he attended a church program, and I was told he danced so well. He had called me on a Thursday, and he said we would see the next day.”
Yemi explained that the devastating call came unexpectedly. Just a day after his brother promised to visit, the family was told that the actor had slumped.
He stated:
“It was that Friday that they called me to say that he had died. I now ask what happened. They told me that he slumped in the bathroom. Before they could get to the hospital, he had died.”
Femi Adebayo mourns Chief Kanran
Meanwhile, actor Femi Adebayo Salami paid tribute to the late Kanran Femi. He disclosed that he was still struggling to come to terms with the sudden passing of Chief Kanran.
Mourning the late actor, Femi described his death as overwhelming, as Chief Kanran had just completed his last acting performance on one of his projects.
Sharing pictures of the late Chief Kanran on his movie sets, Femi Adebayo wrote in a caption,
“Still struggling to come to terms with the sudden passing of Chief Segun Kehinde AkinRemi 💔 @chiefkanran This loss is particularly overwhelming, as he had only just concluded his last acting performance on one of my projects. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus, be with his family, and give them the strength to carry through this loss. Rest well, sir.”
Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.
Napheesa Collier left the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19 with a WNBA All-Star Game-record 36 points and the MVP trophy. The Minnesota Lynx forward looked likely to add a bigger honor at season’s end: the league’s MVP award.
The WNBA will announce the winner Sunday. But in perhaps the biggest shift in the narrative around the MVP award in league history, what appeared to be a foregone conclusion two months ago has turned into a hotly contested race.
Will Collier win her first MVP? Or will Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson become the first WNBA player to win the honor four times?
After the All-Star break, an Aug. 2 injury cost Collier the next seven games. During that absence, the Aces went unbeaten, with Wilson leading them to an eventual 16-game winning streak to end the regular season. Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas had eight triple-doubles in the regular season and also deserves consideration, but the MVP debate largely narrowed to Wilson vs. Collier, who returned Aug. 24.
The No. 1 seed Lynx and No. 2 seed Aces have advanced to the WNBA semifinals. But the playoffs have no bearing on MVP. Award ballots had to be cast two days before the postseason began.
ESPN picked Wilson to win MVP earlier this month, but which player most impressed the largest number of voters on the media panel? Let’s look at how the battle for MVP played out as one of the signature storylines of the 2025 season.
May 7: Wilson was No. 1 in ESPN’s preseason ranking of the top 25 players in the WNBA. Recounting Wilson’s 2024 season, we wrote: “She won her third MVP award with career-high averages in points, rebounds, blocks and steals. Her (26.9) scoring average was the highest for any season in league history. She made the all-WNBA and all-defensive first teams.”
May 16: On the opening night of the 2025 season, Collier scored what ended up being a season-high 34 points. She averaged 26.8 points on 52.7% shooting from the field in her first five games, and Minnesota started the season with nine consecutive victories. Collier, who finished second in MVP balloting last season, staked an early claim to the award.
June 17: The Lynx beat the Aces 76-62 to wrap up a league-best 5-1 record in Commissioner’s Cup games, though Indiana beat Minnesota in the July 1 final. Collier had just seven points against the Aces as she left early in the second half with back pain. It was the only time in her 33 regular-season games that she didn’t score in double figures.
June 27: After missing two games with lingering back issues, Collier returned with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a 96-92 overtime victory at Atlanta.
July 14: Collier started out at No. 2 in ESPN’s preseason ranking of the top 25 players but took over No. 1 on ESPN’s midseason top-25 list, with Wilson dropping to second. We wrote: “For the first time, Collier tops our rankings after submitting a first half that has her in pole position for MVP. Collier leads the WNBA in scoring by more than three points per game and is a leading contender to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year.”
July 19: Team Collier beat Team Caitlin Clark 151-131 at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis. The No. 2 vote-getter behind Clark in All-Star fan balloting, Collier stole the show as she made 13 of 16 shots and had nine rebounds along with her 36 points. Wilson had a quiet All-Star Game, playing 12 minutes and scoring four points.
July 25: Collier had 25 points and nine rebounds on July 25 as Minnesota won 109-78, beating Las Vegas for the second time this season and moving to 22-4. Wilson had 15 points and seven rebounds as the Aces dropped to 12-13.
Aug. 2: Collier had 18 points and five assists as Minnesota clobbered Las Vegas 111-58 in the teams’ third meeting, the largest road victory (53 points) in WNBA history. However, Collier suffered a right ankle sprain in the third quarter and missed the next seven games. That opened the door for Wilson’s MVP challenge.
Aug. 3: The night of the loss to Minnesota, Wilson told her teammates via text that they needed to atone for the “embarrassing” defeat. The next day, the Aces’ winning streak started. Wilson had 14 points and 14 rebounds as the Aces beat Golden State by 24 points.
Aug. 10: Wilson scored 32 points on 13-for-25 shooting — the first of eight games during the winning streak in which she scored 30 or more points — as the Aces beat Connecticut 94-86.
Aug. 13-15: Wilson had a combined 47 points and 32 rebounds in back-to-back victories against New York and Phoenix, two of the teams challenging Las Vegas for the No. 2 seed. That gave the Aces six wins in a row and 20 on the season, but a lot more was to come.
Aug. 19: Wilson had 32 points and 12 rebounds in a key 74-72 win over Atlanta, another team vying for the No. 2 seed. At this point, there was no doubt the MVP race was on.
Aug. 24: The Lynx had already clinched their playoff spot Aug. 12 but were thrilled as Collier returned. She had 32 points and nine rebounds in a victory over Indiana. In all, she played seven games after her return from injury, averaging 20.4 points.
Sept. 4: After losing the first three meetings with Minnesota this season, the Aces won the fourth 97-87 behind Wilson’s 31 points — on 12-of-15 shooting — with eight rebounds. Collier had 12 points and six rebounds for the Lynx, who had already clinched the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage through the playoffs on Aug. 30.
Sept. 7: In an 80-66 win over Chicago, Wilson tallied her 13th game of the season with 30 or more points; it also was her 10th with 30-plus points and 10-plus rebounds. Both are WNBA records. She also topped the 60-steal mark to go along with 80-plus blocks, making her the first player in league history to have multiple 60/60 seasons in those categories.
Coach Becky Hammon compared Wilson after the game to both a gazelle and a lion, saying, “She can dance around you, or she can eat you up.”
Sept. 11: Both players ended the regular season on a high note. Collier finished averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists and became just the second player in WNBA history, following the retired Elena Delle Donne, to shoot 50/40/90 for the season. Collier shot 53.1% from the field, 40.3% from behind the arc and 90.6% from the free throw line.
“I don’t know how long it will be before it happens again,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “She deserves MVP.”
The Aces, meanwhile, clinched the No. 2 seed with a victory at Los Angeles, as Wilson concluded the season averaging 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. She became the first player in league history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in multiple seasons. (She also did it last season.) Wilson has led the league in scoring the past two seasons.
Does history favor Collier or Wilson?
With Thomas in the mix, this year’s race compares to 2023, when New York’s Breanna Stewart won MVP, Thomas (then with Connecticut) was second and Wilson third, with just 13 points separating the trio. That year also is remembered for Thomas getting the most first-place votes (23 to Stewart’s 20 and Wilson’s 17) despite finishing as runner-up, and Wilson getting a much-maligned fourth-place vote.
Hammon also said she sees parallels between this season and 2022, when Wilson edged Stewart 478-446 in points and 31-23 in first-place votes.
The closest WNBA MVP race between two candidates was in 2005, when the Houston Comets’ Sheryl Swoopes defeated Seattle’s Lauren Jackson by just two points (327-325) despite Jackson earning more first-place votes (20-16). Swoopes and Jackson finished their careers with three MVP awards, as did Los Angeles’ Lisa Leslie.
In 2013, Los Angeles’ Candace Parker topped Minnesota’s Maya Moore 234-218 in points, with both players getting 10 first-place votes. There wasn’t much consensus that season as three other players — Delle Donne and then Chicago teammate Sylvia Fowles and Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry — also got first-place votes.
Nigeria Immigration Service launches centralised passport production to deliver passports within one week across the country
New system raises daily output from 300 to as many as 5,000 passports, drastically cutting processing delays
Minister of Interior says the upgrade will improve security, ensure global standards and strengthen the integrity of Nigerian travel documents
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled plans to issue passports within one week following the launch of a fully centralised production system, the first of its kind in the agency’s 62-year history.
Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the development on Thursday after inspecting the new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.
Minister of Interior Tunji-Ojo expresses confidence of faster passport delivery with the new centralised passport centre in Abuja. Photo: Ministry of Interior Source: Facebook
NIS scales up passport production nationwide
He said the facility is fully operational and designed to transform passport processing across the country.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He explained that the previous equipment produced only about 250 to 300 passports daily, which created delays and backlogs.
The new system can handle between 4,500 and 5,000 passports every day, allowing the agency to meet nationwide demand within a few hours of operation.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he said.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week. Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians.”
Centralised system targets one-week passport delivery
The minister described the centralised approach as a game-changer that aligns with global best practices. He said it will not only speed up processing but also improve the quality and integrity of Nigerian passports, making them more secure and widely accepted internationally.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda aimed at modernising government services.
With the centralised system, all passport production will now be done in Abuja and dispatched to state branches for distribution. Photo: FB/ABAT,Tunji-Ojo Source: Twitter
He added that the upgraded system would eliminate the inconsistencies that previously hampered passport production in different locations and ensure a uniform standard across all applications.
The NIS believes the new centre will drastically reduce waiting times for applicants and restore public confidence in the agency’s ability to provide efficient service.
Nigerians applying for new passports or renewals are expected to begin benefiting from the improved delivery timeline once the system becomes fully integrated into operations nationwide.
Nigerians react to improvement in immigration system
Many Nigerians have commented on the latest upgrade to the production system at the immigration service. Below are some of the comments:
@BriefCastNg said:
This is commendable. For the first time in decades, Nigerians can see real reforms in passport processing. Delivering passports within a week and scaling up production to global standards is a true game-changer. Kudos to Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Tinubu administration for prioritizing efficiency, integrity, and service delivery.
Arghhh! What a country! Nigerians should be thanking their God everyday for making President Tinubu their president. How can a country have their international passport machine producing 250 – 300 passports daily??? For Christ sake?? A population of nearly 250million people??? God bless President Tinubu for making all this necessary changes 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾👏🏽”
List of African immigrants scheduled for deportation from US
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the United States government had released updated data revealing that tens of thousands of African immigrants are currently listed for deportation.
The figures, current as of November 24, 2024, highlight the growing focus on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, with nationals from Somalia, Mauritania, and Nigeria topping the list.
Mumbai Customs on Friday said that its officials seized foreign currency and drugs worth over Rs 20 crore at the city airport in different cases and arrested two passengers in connection with the matters.
An official statement said that the Mumbai Customs officials deputed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI) in Mumbai, seized foreign currency and narcotic substances in a series of operations conducted between September 17 and 18, 2025.
In the first case, while acting on specific intelligence, Mumbai Customs Zone-III officers intercepted a passenger travelling to Bangkok. Upon checking the passenger’s trolley bag, officials found foreign currency equivalent to Rs 26.37 lakh concealed inside. The currency was seized and further investigation is underway.
In an another case, the Mumbai Customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok. During baggage inspection, officers found 9.981 kilograms of suspected Hydroponic Marijuana, hidden inside a checked-in trolley bag. The estimated value of the drugs is approximately Rs 9.981 crore. The passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In the third case, on the same flight, an another passenger was found with 10.081 kilograms of suspected Hydroponic Weed, also concealed in checked baggage. The illicit consignment is estimated to be worth Rs 10.081 crore. The passenger was also arrested under the NDPS Act.
