Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has unveiled a new Roadster sports car equipped with thrusters, describing the demonstration as a step towards making flying cars a reality.   The vehicle was showcased during a livestreamed event at a SpaceX test facility in Texas on Thursday, with the demonstration broadcast on Tesla’s X account. During the presentation, the car launched from a steep ramp before landing on its wheels, prompting Musk to declare, “Flying cars are real.” However, the billionaire acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the technology, saying the vehicle’s “success is not guaranteed” but that “it will probably work”. Musk said the car was fitted with ultra-high-pressure air tanks designed to propel it into the air, although the demonstration described in the presentation did not establish that it could sustain flight. He attributed the development to collaboration between Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, and SpaceX, his rocket company. “What happens when you have a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company,” Musk said, describing the project. According to Musk, the vehicle is expected to enter production in 2028. However, technical and regulatory hurdles remain significant challenges for the wider flying-car industry. Flying Cars Face Technical Challenges The concept of flying cars has existed for more than a century. American aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss unveiled an early flying-car prototype in 1917. Despite decades of experimentation, practical flying cars have yet to achieve widespread commercial adoption. Recent advances in electric motors and high-performance batteries have renewed interest in the sector, with developers exploring vehicles that combine road transport with aviation capabilities. However, such vehicles face challenges involving safety, engineering, airspace regulation and commercial viability. Musk’s announcement places Tesla’s latest Roadster concept within this evolving industry, although its planned 2028 production timeline will depend on the project’s technical progress and the requirements for bringing the vehicle to market.

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of Rev. Fr. John Otache, parish priest of St Margaret’s Parish, Ajegbe-Awume, in Ohimini Local Government Area.   The police said investigations had commenced, with efforts under way to secure the priest’s release. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Aondogu Orchia, confirmed the incident on Friday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Orchia said the command had launched a full investigation into the abduction and was working to rescue the priest. The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo disclosed that Otache was abducted on October 13, 2026. In a statement signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Itodo, the diocese said the priest was returning home from Otukpo when he encountered his abductors along the Otobi Amejo-Ajegbe Road in Ohimini Local Government Area. Itodo expressed sadness over the incident, noting that the Bishop of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Apochi, was deeply pained by the development. The diocese called on priests, religious members, the laity and other well-meaning individuals to pray for the priest’s safe and speedy release. It also urged Nigerians to pray for other people held captive by kidnappers across the country, expressing hope for their safe return.

Chelsea captain Reece James has undergone successful knee surgery after sustaining an injury during training, the Premier League club announced on Friday.   The 26-year-old England international missed Chelsea’s last two league matches, a 3-0 defeat to Brentford and a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth. According to a statement from Chelsea, James was absent from Saturday’s win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge while medical assessments were conducted to determine the extent of his injury. “Those assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action,” the club said. Chelsea added that the defender had begun his recovery and would receive support from the club’s medical department at its Cobham training centre during rehabilitation. The surgery comes as Chelsea prepare for their Premier League trip to Everton on Saturday. The Blues are sixth in the league standings ahead of the fixture, with James’ recovery now a key concern for the club as the season progresses.

A Lagos car dealer, Chima Edmund, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of releasing a man suspected of stealing a 2025 Toyota Tundra worth about ₦130m from his showroom after the vehicle crashed into a canal during an alleged escape attempt.   Edmund, founder of Mayor and Sheiks Autos, said the incident occurred on Monday at his dealership in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) area of Lekki, Lagos State. He estimated the cost of repairing the damaged pickup at about ₦40m. The dealer made the allegations in an interview with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, claiming that the suspect posed as a prospective buyer before driving away with the vehicle. According to Edmund, the man arrived at his showroom around 4pm carrying a bag and requested the key to the unsold pickup, claiming he wanted to inspect its engine. He said a junior staff member handed over the key while the man appeared to be checking the vehicle. However, the suspect allegedly engaged the gear and drove away. Edmund explained that the vehicle left the dealership through an exit that required a supporting slab because of the difference in elevation between the car stand and the main road. He added that the vehicle’s doors locked automatically after the suspect engaged the gear, forcing him to drive towards the VGC Bridge. The dealer said his staff member pursued the pickup but struggled to convince passers-by that the driver was not its rightful owner. According to Edmund, the suspect drove through a residential estate in Ajah, damaged a barricade at the entrance and continued towards Chevron and Ebeano before heading to Ajiran. He said the suspect eventually reached a dead end in Ajiran and drove over a canal, causing the pickup to land in the water. Some residents reportedly pulled him out of the vehicle. Dealer alleges pressure to withdraw case Edmund said the incident damaged the Toyota Tundra and a barricade at the VGC entrance. He added that he paid for the barricade repairs, medical treatment for people injured during the incident and the suspect’s treatment following the crash. He explained that the suspect was not initially detained in a cell because of the injuries he sustained. The case was first reported at the Ajah Police Division before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba. Edmund said two women who identified themselves as the suspect’s mother and sister later visited him. He added that they claimed to be from Agbor, Delta State. The dealer said he became concerned about recovering his expenses after learning that the suspect had been released on bail. He also alleged that investigators pressured him to withdraw the complaint after the suspect was reportedly identified as having a psychiatric condition. Edmund questioned the circumstances surrounding the release, expressing concern over the financial burden of repairing the damaged vehicle. He appealed for assistance in recovering his losses, which he estimated at about ₦40m. The dealer, who said he had been in the automobile business since 1996, described the incident as unprecedented in his nearly three decades in the industry. He explained that he had operated in several parts of Lagos, including Berger and FESTAC, before relocating to VGC, adding that he had never experienced a similar incident. Edmund also defended his staff against suggestions that the vehicle had been left unattended with the suspect, arguing that a proper test drive should involve at least two people accompanying a prospective buyer. On why the pickup did not have a tracking device, he said it was a new vehicle that had not yet been sold. He explained that installing a tracker could require interference with the vehicle’s wiring system and raise questions among prospective buyers about its usage history. Police defend suspect’s release However, the Lagos State Police Command denied that the suspect had been improperly released. The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the suspect had been certified as a psychiatric patient by recognised government hospitals and competent courts. According to Adebisi, the dealer was aware of the information during the investigation and subsequently submitted a letter withdrawing the complaint. She said the suspect was handed over to his mother for rehabilitation following the withdrawal. However, PUNCH Metro reported that it could not independently verify the police spokesperson’s claims because she did not provide the documents requested to substantiate the alleged medical certification and withdrawal of the complaint. The circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release and the dealer’s reported financial losses therefore remain disputed.