Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey is reportedly attracting interest from Manchester United, according to transfer reports on Saturday, 31 October 2026.

What is being reported

United are said to be considering Bassey as a possible replacement for Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez, whose contract is reported to expire at the end of the season. Martinez is said to be open to leaving Old Trafford, with Barcelona reportedly making enquiries. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are also said to be out of contract next summer, which could leave United needing several defenders.

Bassey's situation

Bassey has been one of Fulham's most consistent players this season. His contract at Craven Cottage reportedly runs out at the end of the season, although Fulham are said to have an option to extend it by a year and would prefer to agree a new deal. Because his contract is running down, he could be available for a relatively low fee. Newcastle United, Everton, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also reportedly monitoring him.

Background

Bassey, who can play at centre-back or left-back, joined Fulham from Ajax in 2023 after earlier spells at Rangers. He has become a regular for the Super Eagles and is valued for his pace and versatility. Manchester United, managed by Michael Carrick, have made a slow start to the season.

What happens next

No formal offer has been reported, and any move is unlikely before the January transfer window at the earliest.

Hopes of an imminent opening of the US Diversity Visa lottery for 2027 have been put on hold after a federal appeals court intervened, according to reports on Sunday, 1 November 2026.

What happened

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reportedly granted an emergency stay on 29 October, pausing an order issued by District Judge Jinsook Ohta on 14 October. That order, made in a case brought by immigration law firm Red Eagle Law against Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had required the State Department to announce registration dates, open applications and notify selected entrants by 3 December. The lower court had set 29 October for publishing registration details and 1 November for opening the application window.

Why it was paused

The appeals judges reportedly found that the law firm had not shown that its financial interest in representing lottery winners was closely enough linked to the programme's goal of increasing immigration from under-represented countries. The court said its decision was not an endorsement of the State Department's failure to open the programme.

Who is affected

The lottery offers up to 55,000 US immigrant visas each year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States, and African applicants have long made up a large share of winners. Tens of thousands of hopefuls across the continent now have no confirmed registration date. Nigeria has been excluded from the lottery for several years because of its high number of immigrants to the US, but many Nigerians follow the programme closely and some qualify through a spouse's or parent's country of birth.

What happens next

The registration window will remain closed until the appeal is decided or the State Department announces its own dates.

The United States Embassy in Moscow has issued an urgent warning about a possible attack at one of the Russian capital's best-known historic sites.

What the embassy said

In a statement on Saturday, 31 October 2026, the embassy said it was aware of a credible threat of an event that could cause mass casualties at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve. It advised American citizens to avoid the site that day, stay alert and avoid crowds, and said the US government was coordinating with Russian authorities.

Russia's response

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed it had received information from its American counterparts about possible preparations for a terrorist attack in Moscow and said it was taking appropriate action. Russian media reported that the museum reserve was temporarily closed and that police restricted access to the surrounding park.

Background

Tsaritsyno is a large 18th-century palace and park complex in the south of Moscow, popular with tourists and families. The warning is reminiscent of March 2024, when the US Embassy warned of a possible attack on large gatherings in Moscow shortly before gunmen attacked the Crocus City Hall concert venue, killing more than 140 people. The rare cooperation between US and Russian security services comes at a time of high tension between Russia and the West over Ukraine and Europe.

What happens next

No attack had been reported at the time of writing. Russian authorities are expected to give further updates on their security operation.

VeryDarkMan (VDM) and his RATEL brand have reportedly recorded about ₦90 million in sales in just one day, a figure that has set social media talking about how far the activist-turned-businessman could go.

The claim followed a post showing VDM in RATEL Power branded safety gear, holding up his phone, alongside a screenshot of bank alerts. The alerts, all dated 31 October 2026, show several customer payments for RATEL products, including a 600-watt power station, with the account balance climbing above ₦83 million.

From critic to businessman

VDM first became widely known for his social media videos and for publicly challenging powerful figures. Over time he has moved into importing products from China, building his own brand and steadily establishing himself in business. RATEL now sells items ranging from power stations to sensor lights.

A marketing style built on openness

What stands out most is how he markets the brand. Rather than relying on traditional adverts, he brings his audience along with him. He shows them the products, explains how they work and tests them publicly, so followers are watching the business grow in real time.

Whether people like him or not, few can deny the attention he has drawn to RATEL.

Sales are not profit

It is worth remembering that ₦90 million in sales is not ₦90 million in profit. Running a business comes with stock costs, shipping, staff, risk and plenty of other challenges, and the figure itself has not been independently confirmed.

Still, if RATEL keeps up this momentum, many observers believe it could grow into a multibillion-naira business group. Ten years from now, people may look back at these early videos and remember exactly how it all started.

Why it matters

Nigeria needs more young people who can turn online influence into productive businesses that create jobs and last. VDM's journey, with its struggles, criticism, mistakes and determination, is playing out in full public view.

So the question is simple: do you believe RATEL can become one of Nigeria's biggest indigenous brands in the next five years?