Macron set to name next French premier

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister in France later on Friday, as he remains under huge pressure to resolve the country’s political deadlock.

It is not yet clear whether Sébastien Lecornu, who resigned after just four weeks in office, will stay on after all, or whether a new person will fill the role.

Before making his decision, Macron invited the leaders of the parties in parliament to the Élysée Palace for consultations at 2:30 pm (1230 GMT), French media reported.

The only parties not present will be Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI).

Various names have been suggested in the media for the country’s next premier, including Socialist leader Olivier Faure, former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, centrist politician Jean-Louis Borloo as well as François Villeroy de Galhau, the head of France’s central bank.

Macron is under time pressure, because if highly indebted France wants to get a budget for the coming year in place in time, according to the constitution it must be submitted to parliament by Monday at the latest, and by a prime minister.

Fresh elections could be another potential path out of the crisis.

Former premier Édouard Philippe, who served under Macron from 2017 to 2020 and plans to run in the next presidential election, on Thursday urged the president to step down, saying it was the only way to overcome the months of deadlock.

Macron should announce he is ‘organising an early presidential election,’ Philippe told RTL radio.

Kodaline to disband after over a decade: It’s been a journey we’ll never forget

Irish rock band Kodaline announced that they will be parting ways after releasing the group’s fifth and final album.

The band, which is composed of Steve Garrigan, Vincent May, Mark Prendergast and Jason Boland, spoke about their disbandment through a video on the band’s Facebook page on Thursday, Oct. 9.

‘After over a decade together, we’ve made a difficult decision to say goodbye to Kodaline. We know this might come as a surprise, and it’s definitely bittersweet for us too,’ the band members say in the background, as clips of their performances flash in the video.

‘What we’ve shared with you has changed our lives forever. From busking on the streets of Dublin to playing shows across the world, it really has been the stuff that dreams are made of,’ they continued.

Without disclosing the reason for their split, the band said they are ending ‘on a high’ by recording their final album as Kodaline. Further details on the album have yet to be announced as of this writing.

‘We are and will always will be forever grateful for your love and support,’ they added. ‘It’s been a journey that we’ll never forget. And we hope the music stays with you long after we’re gone.’

Kodaline, which was formerly known as 21 Demands, is best known for their hit songs ‘All I Want,’ ‘Brother,’ ‘High Hopes’ and ‘The One.’ /ra

”No more graduation, Christmas parties in Anambra schools,” Soludo declares

Anambra governor Chukwuma Soludo has joined the league of governors who have banned graduation ceremonies and Christmas parties in their schools to reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians.

Speaking during a campaign rally organised by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday at Awka North, Soludo frowned at the practice of organising ‘graduation ceremonies’ for pupils moving from one class to another, which often require parents to pay for gowns or uniforms.

He also expressed concern over what he described as unnecessary expenses imposed on parents through school-related activities.

Soludo said the ban on such activities was part of his administration’s effort to make education more affordable and equitable for all families.

‘This is to owners and administrators of government, private and mission schools in Anambra. We have set out some basic standards to ensure that the poor are not made to spend so much just because their children are in school.

‘One of the measures includes discontinuing the use of textbooks designed for students to write in. This practice forces parents to buy new textbooks annually.

‘Once a child finishes a class, he should be able to pass on his textbooks to his younger siblings,’ he said.

He described such activities as unnecessary and exploitative.

‘Even Christmas parties, parents should not be made to pay for such. These are too many expenses on poor parents,’ the governor said.

Soludo warned that the state government would begin strict enforcement of the new directives, adding that any school found violating them would be sealed.

‘These activities will end in Anambra schools because we will begin enforcement and any school that fails to comply or violates these standards will be closed.

‘I will personally see to that. And when we seal your school, you can go to court. We will meet there,’ he said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting quality, accessible and affordable education for every child in the state.

Army nabs high-profile terror suspect, recovers arms in sweeping operations

The Nigerian Army says its troops have apprehended a high profile terror suspect and recovered cache of arms and surrender of terrorists in recent operations across theatres.

A source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the successes were recorded between Oct. 7 and Oct. 9.

He said that troops of 2 Brigade, in collaboration with Department of State Services operatives, raided a kidnappers’ hideout at Eket, Akwa Ibom, and apprehended a notorious kidnap kingpin, Emmanuel Akpan.

According to him, Akpan, known for kidnappings along the Oron/Ibaka axis, was apprehended during a joint operation on Oct. 7 and is currently in DSS custody for further investigation.

The source added that troops of 196 Amphibious Battalion nabbed an ISWAP/JAS terrorist at Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno, while attempting to infiltrate the town on Oct. 8.

He said that preliminary investigation had revealed the suspect served as logistics and intelligence courier between terrorist enclaves in Chad and Niger Republic, posing as a surrendering fighter.

‘In Kaduna State, troops of 4 Demonstration Battalion intercepted two suspects conveying 1,307 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition along the Lere-Saminaka-Kaduna Road.

‘The suspects were arrested with four mobile phones and ?27,000 cash. The ammunition was being transported from Barakin Ladi, Plateau State, to Zamfara.

‘Meanwhile, three ISWAP/JAS terrorists, including a female, surrendered to 68 Battalion troops at Bosso, Niger State, citing intense military pressure and hardship in their camps.

‘The surrendered terrorists, from Konduga and Jabilam, are currently being profiled for further debriefing by security operatives,’ he said.

The source also revealed that troops of 222 at Bazamri Village, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, engaged terrorists in a fierce firefight.

He added that the troops recovered two RPG bombs and a belt containing 150 rounds of 7.62x54mm ammunition after the encounter.

‘Across other regions, troops intensified anti-oil theft operations in Rivers, Delta, Imo, Ebonyi and Plateau States, arresting suspects and dismantling illegal refining sites.

‘During the operations, troops recovered 6,650 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, seized boats and vehicles used for transporting illicit petroleum products, and destroyed several refining ovens.

‘The Nigerian Army remains resolute in protecting citizens, denying terrorists freedom of action and creating safe conditions for peace and economic development,’ he added.

Student-journo declines CIDG questioning over Sept. 21 violence

Jacob Baluyot, the student-journalist subpoenaed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) over violence during the Sept. 21 anticorruption protests, declined to be questioned by police in a letter sent to their office on Friday morning.

Baluyot was among four individuals whom the CIDG subpoenaed for questioning, alleging that the respondents were ‘leaders’ of groups behind the riot at Mendiola after the Baha Sa Luneta rally.

‘Upon legal advice, I must respectfully decline to participate in these proceedings to protect my rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and applicable laws,’ Baluyot told the CIDG in a copy of the letter sent to the Inquirer.

He further maintained that the CIDG’s probe ‘constitutes a custodial investigation,’ citing Article III, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution, which pertains to his right to remain silent and have legal counsel.

‘By being subpoenaed as an alleged ‘leader,’ I am effectively being treated as a suspect, not merely as a witness,’ Baluyot stressed.

‘I attended the anti-corruption assemblies in Luneta and Mendiola in my capacity as a campus journalist to cover the event for reportage. I had no involvement in any of the alleged violent incidents,’ he said.

Baluyot is a third-year journalism student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta Mesa, and is associate editor of their official campus publication, The Catalyst.

According to him, the subpoena was dated Oct. 3, and his father received it for him at their Manila home while he was in class on Oct. 7.

Additionally, Baluyot’s legal counsel at the Public Interest Law Center expressed ‘grave concern’ over the CIDG subpoena.

‘The issuance of subpoenas against journalists covering public assemblies is a dangerous precedent,’ it said in a statement on Friday.

‘It chills legitimate reporting, undermines press freedom, and weaponizes investigative processes against those performing constitutionally protected functions,’ it added.

`Orchestrated witch hunt’

In a phone interview with the Inquirer last Wednesday, Baluyot condemned the move to subpoena him and another student-leader over the riot as an ‘orchestrated witch hunt against youth activists and campus journalists.’

The other student-leader subpoenaed was Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon officer Aldrin Kitsune, a film student at the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde who likewise denied any involvement with the riot.

Another of the subpoenaed individuals, who identified himself as Park Alamada Pangawilan, was the lone respondent to appear before the CIDG last Monday and similarly denied that he instigated the violence.

During the Mendiola riot, law enforcement officers arrested over 200 individuals – around 80 of whom were minors, prompting human rights groups to condemn the police for supposedly not exercising maximum tolerance.

The anticorruption protests stemmed from alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects, particularly those for flood control.

CIDG to respect student journo’s rights

Asked for comment, CIDG Director, Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said the unit, as the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) primary investigative arm, was mandated to probe ‘high-profile crimes.’

The CIDG previously cited Republic Act No. 10973 as the basis for its authority to subpoena individuals for its investigations and to file a case before a regional trial court for indirect contempt if they fail to appear.

‘The exercise of his subpoena power extends to all persons regardless of one’s social status, profession or gender, and whether the person to whom the subpoena was issued perceives himself as a suspect or otherwise,’ Morico said in a message to reporters on Friday.

‘Rest assured that statutory and constitutional rights of every person subpoenaed by the CIDG, under my watch, shall be accorded and respected by the CIDG,’ he added. /mr

Teni explains why she doesn’t give money on Fridays

Singer Teni has sparked reactions online after revealing the unusual reason she avoids giving out money on Fridays.

In a viral video, the ‘Billionaire’ crooner said she never parts with cash on Fridays because, according to her, people often use the money to buy pepper soup instead of doing something meaningful with it.

‘Me I no dey give anybody money on Friday. If you give person money that day, them go use am chop pepper soup,’ Teni said in Pidgin English.

She recounted how someone once begged her for money to start a business but ended up spending it on a big bowl of catfish pepper soup.

The singer advised that if anyone wants to give money, it should be on a Monday, when people are still focused on their plans for the week.

Her statement has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions from fans who found her logic both funny and relatable.

Waste-to-energy projects up for grabs in 2026

The Department of Energy (DOE) hopes to get more investor support for its waste-to-energy (WTE) push with the launch of a special bidding round in early 2026.

In a statement on Thursday, the agency said the ‘special green energy auction’ would happen in January.

This will mainly focus on WTE projects that will source their waste feedstock within Metro Manila and highly urbanized cities (HUCs), with completion set by the fourth quarter of 2027.

WTE is the process of converting nonrecyclable waste into electricity or fuel.

The energy department will issue the notice of auction and terms of reference within October.

Citing 2024 data from the National Solid Waste Management Commission, the capital region and HUCs generate an estimated 6.12 million metric tons of solid waste, with a potential 335 megawatts of baseload power capacity.

Meanwhile, another auction round will be conducted for biomass and WTE technologies by the second quarter of next year. For this, the DOE intends to open the bidding for proposed projects nationwide.

‘As an emerging renewable energy technology, WTE project development is one of the country’s strategies to address solid waste management, serve as flood control mitigation and provide additional clean energy,’ it said.

Power infrastructure

Makati Business Club (MBC) earlier urged the government to classify WTE developments as power infrastructure to increase investor interest in the sector.

‘For these projects to be financially viable, the electricity they generate must also be sold at fair and predictable prices. Recognizing WTE as part of the country’s energy infrastructure, and not only as a waste disposal method, is key to improving project feasibility,’ MBC said in its previous policy note.

High costs also remained ‘a key barrier’ for WTE to take off, as many LGUs still see landfilling as the ‘cheaper option,’ it said.

‘Encouraging LGUs (local government units) to cluster or coordinate can help pool waste supply and improve project scale,’ it said.

’Do I look sick to you?’- Dolly Parton reacts to rumors

American country music star, Dolly Parton, has reacted to reports about her health, revealing that she is not sick.

Parton on her social media page on Wednesday, made a video to clear the rumors. She stated that people have exaggerated her current health situation

‘I wanted to say, I know lately everybody thinks that I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m workin’ hard here,’ she said.

Parton also expressed her gratitude for the concerns she received from her fans. She urged them to put their mind at ease concerning her, emphasising that she is fine.

‘And I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith. I can always use the prayers for anything and everything, but I want you to know that I’m ok. I ain’t dead yet!,’ she added.

Angelina Jolie: Why I can’t go back to my home with Brad

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has revealed why she vowed never to return to her and ex-husband Brad Pitt’s French estate, Chateau Miraval, after their bitter split.

In new court papers, the 50-year-old actress said the property holds ‘painful memories’ linked to the events that led to her 2016 divorce from Brad.

‘The events leading to my need to separate from my ex-husband were emotionally difficult for me and our children,’ she stated in the filing obtained by People.

Jolie said she left Brad full control of their Los Angeles and French homes after filing for divorce, hoping it would calm tensions.

‘To this day, the children and I have never again set foot on the property,’ she added.

The former couple – parents to six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne – have been locked in a years-long legal battle over the $64 million Miraval estate and winery.

Brad has accused Angelina of selling her stake in the property without his consent, while she insists she moved on to protect her family.

Their messy dispute continues in court, as both sides trade accusations over contracts and private communications.

Sotto evades ouster; Senate adjourns session for Undas break

The Senate adjourned its session Friday without addressing any leadership changes.

Less than 10 minutes after it convened at 10 a.m., the chamber immediately adjourned. Only Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, and Sen. Robinhood Padilla were present when the chamber recessed for the Undas break.

During the brief plenary, the chamber only read a letter from the House of Representatives informing the Senate that it would not adjourn its session to allow the approval of the 2026 budget on second and third reading.

The lower chamber is set to adjourn its session Monday, October 13.

Meanwhile, no discussions on a leadership change were raised during the session. Earlier, rumors of an alleged move to unseat Sotto circulated in the Senate, but the Senate chief himself denied them.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who was rumored to replace Sotto, also denied plotting an ouster against the incumbent Senate President.

Cayetano said the speculation about a possible leadership change might have originated from supporters of both the majority and minority blocs./mcm/abc