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3. Iran launched its largest attack on Israel, firing 200 ballistic missiles. Israeli defenses, supported by the U.S. and allies, intercepted most of the missiles, though some struck military bases, schools, and restaurants. One person in the West Bank died, and two Israelis were slightly injured by shrapnel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran would face consequences for this “big mistake,” raising fears of a regional war. Iran claimed the attack was retaliation for the deaths of Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. In response, Israel has escalated its conflict with Hezbollah, deploying more troops to southern Lebanon despite calling the incursion “limited.” Iran has threatened harsher strikes if Israel retaliates. Allies like the U.S. and U.K. supported Israel’s defense.
4. The vice-presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz was a civil, policy-focused discussion, unlike the contentious Trump-Harris presidential debates earlier in the year. Both candidates spent more time attacking their opponents’ running mates than each other. Vance appeared more comfortable and defended Trump’s policies, while Walz, after a shaky start, found his footing on topics like abortion and the Capitol riot. The debate saw agreement and clashes, particularly over Trump’s false election claims. Vance’s strong performance cemented his image in conservative politics, while Walz held his ground but struggled with specific topics like foreign policy and gun control. While the debate is unlikely to shift the election’s outcome, Vance’s future in national politics seems promising.
5. Zenith Bank experienced service disruptions across its digital platforms on October 1, 2024, due to routine IT maintenance from 12:01 am to 2:30 pm. The maintenance affected fund transfers, mobile banking, and internet services. The bank apologized for the inconvenience via a message on X, explaining the maintenance aimed to enhance service quality. They also reminded customers to safeguard their account details against phishing attempts. By October 2, services were restored. Similarly, Unity Bank also resolved network issues affecting its customers and apologized for the disruption.
6. Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, has announced a documentary titled Homecoming, chronicling her athletic journey. The trailer, produced by sports studio ATHLST, was revealed by Amusan via X (formerly Twitter). The documentary shows her career highs, including her 2022 world record race in Oregon, and lows, such as her provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit in 2023, which she was later cleared. Amusan currently holds the world record of 12.12s in the 100m hurdles, and she is the Commonwealth and African champion and a three-time Diamond League titleholder.
