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UN Chief Says Retaliatory Spiral In Middle East Must End

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UN Chief Says Retaliatory Spiral In Middle East Must End—-UN Secretary-General António Guterres has again appealed to all parties involved in the Middle East crisis to de-escalate the situation, saying the retaliatory spiral in the region should end.

Guterres made the appeal in a statement following reports of alleged Israeli strikes inside Iran near a nuclear power station on Friday.

“The Secretary-General condemns any act of retaliation and appeals to the international community to work together to prevent further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond.

Echoing those concerns, UN atomic energy agency chief Rafael Grossi urged “extreme restraint” from all sides after more than six and a half months of war in Gaza that have fuelled fears of a wider regional conflict.

 “IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites” and Director-General Grossi “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts”, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a tweet.

It said this following unconfirmed media reports that possible drone strikes had targeted the Iranian province of Isfahan, which is home to nuclear facilities and military garrisons.

In Geneva, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) also urged all parties “to take steps to de-escalate the situation” rapidly.

“(We) call on third states, in particular those with influence, to do all in their power to ensure there is no further deterioration in an already extremely precarious situation,” said OHCR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence.

In Gaza, aid teams offered new insight into the dangers faced by Palestinian civilians – particularly pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers – as a result of the “wanton destruction” of vital medical equipment and widespread “dehydration, malnutrition and fear” among Palestinians.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Dominic Allen, Representative for the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) for Palestine, said that there were indications that the number of complicated births is nearly twice what it was before war erupted.

“There is absolutely an increase in the numbers,” he said, adding that before the war, around 15 per cent of births required some form of emergency obstetric care.

“Today, some doctors have reported a doubling of what they previously had dealt with, and this is due to malnutrition, dehydration and fear, which impact the pregnant woman’s ability to give birth safely and carry their baby to full term safely,” the UNFPA official said.

Allen described his latest mission to Gaza to assess the impact of Israeli attacks on healthcare at embattled hospitals in the north, central and southern governorates.

It was clear that the last remaining hospitals in the enclave – including its second largest, Nasser Hospital – are “clinging to life themselves whilst they are a lifeline for the pregnant women of Gaza”,  Allen said via video link from Jerusalem.

“What I saw, it breaks my heart…It’s indescribable. What we see there is medical equipment, purposefully broken, ultrasounds – which you will know is a very important tool for helping ensure safe births – with cables that have been cut, screens of complex medical equipment like ultrasounds and other with the screens smashed. So, purposeful, wanton destruction in the maternity ward,” he added.

Before intense Israeli bombardment began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks across southern Israel on  Oct. 7, Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis had a maternity ward which UNFPA teams have supported and supplied for years.

In order to be fully functional again, the hospital will need reconditioned water and sanitation services and repairs to damaged electricity generators, at a bare minimum.

“But, I stood beside the warehouse (where) we delivered supplies many months ago and it was literally burning; there’s so much work to do in terms of trying to re-establish that lifeline,”  Allen said.

The UNFPA mission, which began on Monday  April 8 and ended this Wednesday, was carried out in partnership with the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The objective was to visit around 10 hospitals in Gaza, among them Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, which was “overwhelmed with trauma patients” and not supporting maternity care.

At Emirati Hospital in the south of the enclave,  Allen recounted meeting the medical director of the facility who said that “he no longer sees normal-sized babies.”

Turning to Rafah and continuing fears of an Israeli incursion, the UNFPA officer underscored the “great sense of fear” hanging over the more than 1.2 million people sheltering there.

“There is a palpable fear from the Gazans who I spoke with – the midwives, doctors, pregnant women, my fellow colleagues, who are in Gaza…Right now it’s a haven for 1.2 million Gazans; it’s not a safe haven, but it’s a haven at least.”

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Fatgbems Group Takes Customer Appreciation To Retail Outlets Across Lagos, Ogun and Oyo To Mark Customer Service Week

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Fatgbems Group Takes Customer Appreciation To Retail Outlets Across Lagos, Ogun and Oyo To Mark Customer Service Week

 

Fatgbems Group has commenced its 2026 Customer Service Week with a strong commitment to going beyond expectations and creating memorable experiences for its customers, as the Group celebrates the week under the theme “The Extra Mile.”

The week-long celebration was officially kicked off on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Fatgbems Opic Mega Station, bringing together the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Director of Retail Business and Expansion, Executive Director, Operations and Technology, Executive Director, Wholesale Business, Chief Operating Officer, other members of the Senior Management Team and staff.

The opening ceremony provided an opportunity for the leadership team to appreciate employees for their commitment to delivering excellent customer experiences while reinforcing the importance of putting customers at the heart of every business decision.

The theme, “The Extra Mile,” reflects Fatgbems Group’s commitment to doing more than simply meeting customer expectations. It represents the Group’s determination to consistently deliver exceptional service, listen to customers, appreciate their loyalty and create positive experiences at every point of interaction.

Speaking at the commencement of the Customer Service Week, the Chief Operating Officer of Fatgbems Group, Mr. Ayodele Odulaja, said the celebration reflected the organisation’s belief that customer service is not merely a department or function, but a responsibility shared by everyone within the Group.

“At Fatgbems, we believe that customer service goes beyond providing a product or completing a transaction. It is about how we make our customers feel, how well we listen to them and the additional effort we are willing to make to meet and exceed their expectations.

“The theme, The Extra Mile, captures the spirit we want to see across Fatgbems. We want every member of our team to understand that sometimes it is the little extra effort, the smile, the timely response, the willingness to listen or the decision to solve a customer’s problem that makes all the difference.

“This week is therefore not just a celebration; it is a renewed commitment to our customers. We appreciate their loyalty and assure them that Fatgbems will continue to raise the bar in delivering excellent service.”

As part of the activities lined up for the celebration, Fatgbems customer-facing teams will embark on an engagement tour of selected retail outlets across Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States, bringing the Customer Service Week experience directly to customers.

A major highlight of the outlet engagement will be the “Spin and Win” customer interaction, designed to create excitement while rewarding customers for their patronage and loyalty to the Fatgbems brand.

Customers will have the opportunity to participate in the interactive game and win a range of exciting gifts, including fuel top-ups, branded flasks, umbrellas, blood pressure monitors and other gift items.

Speaking on his experience during the Customer Service Week engagement, one of Fatgbems’ customers, Mr. Usman Adeola, commended the initiative and described it as a welcome demonstration of the company’s appreciation for its customers.

“It is encouraging to see Fatgbems come out to interact directly with customers and appreciate us. Customer service is not only about selling fuel; it is also about how customers are treated and how the company makes us feel valued.

“The Spin and Win is a very interesting idea, and I believe initiatives like this will strengthen the relationship between Fatgbems and its customers. We appreciate the company for going the extra mile.”

The Customer Service Week activities will also provide an avenue for Fatgbems teams to interact directly with customers, receive feedback, understand their experiences and identify opportunities to further improve service delivery across its retail network.

The Group believes that sustainable business growth is closely linked to customer trust, satisfaction and loyalty. Consequently, Fatgbems continues to invest in initiatives that strengthen customer relationships while ensuring that its people, products and service channels consistently deliver on the brand promise.

The 2026 Customer Service Week celebration reinforces Fatgbems Group’s commitment to putting customers first, listening more, responding better and going the extra mile in delivering value.

 

 

About Fatgbems Group

Fatgbems Group is a diversified Nigerian business group with interests spanning key sectors of the economy. Through its businesses, the Group remains committed to delivering quality products and services while creating sustainable value for customers, employees, partners and other stakeholders.

 

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686 Days and Counting: Hull Loss Keeps Man United Fan Away From the Barber

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686 Days and Counting: Hull Loss Keeps Man United Fan Away From the Barber—-Frank Ilett’s bizarre haircut challenge has entered another chapter after Manchester United’s 2–0 defeat to Hull City extended his wait for a five-match winning streak.

For most football fans, a disappointing result means a few hours of frustration before attention turns to the next match.

For Frank Ilett, a Manchester United defeat means something rather different: another few weeks with the same haircut.

Ilett has now reached 686 days without cutting his hair, as his unusual challenge continues following United’s shock 2–0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City at the MKM Stadium.

The challenge began in October 2024, when Ilett decided he would not cut his hair until Manchester United recorded five consecutive victories. What started as a light-hearted challenge has since turned into a remarkable test of patience.

And he is still waiting.

Hull Put Another Hold on the Challenge

There had been renewed optimism that Ilett might finally be getting closer to a haircut after United ended last season with back-to-back victories.

A win over Hull would have given them a third consecutive victory and kept the possibility of reaching the required five-match run alive.

Instead, the newly promoted Tigers produced a memorable performance, beating United 2–0 in front of their home supporters.

Semi Ajayi opened the scoring before Nobel Mendy doubled Hull’s advantage, both goals arriving in the first half.

The result brought United’s winning momentum to an abrupt end — and ensured Ilett’s hair would continue growing.

“This Was Meant to Be One of the Easier Games”

Speaking after the defeat, Ilett admitted that he had expected a very different outcome.

He had viewed the trip to Hull as one of the more manageable fixtures on United’s schedule and was clearly disappointed by the manner of the defeat.

The fan also criticised United’s performance, suggesting that Hull showed greater urgency and desire throughout the contest.

For Ilett, however, the consequences extend beyond the league table.

Every defeat means another delay.

A Challenge That Has Lasted Nearly Two Years

Ilett began his challenge after United’s most recent five-game winning run, which came between January and February 2024.

Since then, the club have failed to produce the sequence required to send him to the barber.

Nearly two years later, the challenge has become an internet curiosity among Manchester United supporters, many of whom have followed the progress of his increasingly lengthy hairstyle.

The latest defeat means the earliest Ilett could potentially complete the challenge is September 20, but only if United win their next five matches.

Those fixtures include meetings with Ipswich Town, Everton, Manchester City, Fulham and their opening Champions League league-phase opponent.

One slip-up would mean the challenge continues.

United’s Results Decide the Fate of His Hair

While United’s immediate concern will be recovering from their disappointing start to the campaign, Ilett will once again be watching every result with a very different interest.

For the players, five consecutive victories would mean momentum and points.

For Ilett, it would finally mean a trip to the barber.

Until then, the scissors remain untouched.

Day 686 has come and gone — and Frank Ilett’s Manchester United-inspired haircut challenge continues

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