EPL Wrap: Liverpool, Man City Drop Points, Chelsea Saved By Var

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September 5, 2022

The first and second-placed teams in the league last season have already dropped points early in the season

The 2022/23 English Premier League son is just six weeks old, but it looks very different from last season when there was a gulf between the duo of Manchester City and Liverpool and the rest of the league.

On Saturday, both teams dropped points again. Liverpool were inches from claiming victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby, but Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made three fantastic saves to keep his side in the game.

Darwin Nunez, on his return from suspension, almost scored with a volley in the second half that Pickford parried unto the crossbar before Luis Diaz, in the next phase of action, struck the inside of the left post.

Tom Davies also hit the post while Alisson produced two excellent stops to earn his side a point. First, he had to adjust quickly to tip away a deflected shot from Dwight McNeil and then saved point blank from Neal Maupay, though the Everton forward should have done better.

Over at Villa Park, Pep Guardiola’s prediction that Aston Villa would be more dangerous because of their lowly position in the league came to pass. Though Erling Haaland gave the Citizens the lead in the 50th minute of a lovely cross from Kevin De Bruyne, Leon Bailey equalised for Villa after good work from Jacob Ramsey.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea had to come from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 though the Hammers should be rightly miffed that Maxwell Cornet’s immediate riposte was chalked off for minimal contact on Eduoard Mendy by Jarrod Bowen in the 90th minute.

Michail Antonio gave David Moyes’ side the lead after a scramble from a corner in the 63rd minute. Ben Chilwell came on for Marc Cucurella in the 72nd minute and scored the equaliser four minutes after. Another substitute, Kai Havertz scored the winning goal on 88 minutes from a Chilwell cross.

In other matches, Tottenham continued their excellent start to the season with a 2-1 win over Fulham in which Pierre Hojbjerg and Harry Kane scored for Antonio Conte’s team while Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the consolation for the Cottagers in the 83rd minute. Wolves won their first league game at home since April with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Southampton.

Also in London, Brentford hammered Leeds United 5-2 with a hat trick from Ivan Toney. Leeds manager, Jesse Marsh, was red carded in the second half. Crystal Palace held Newcastle 0-0 and they will believe they were hard done again as Tyrick Mitchell’s own goal was cancelled because of a foul on him by Joseph Willock, who was pushed into the Palace defender.

Two matches are scheduled for Sunday. Manchester United host unblemished Arsenal while Brighton host winless Leicester City. Arsenal remain top of the table with 15 points while Leicester City are bottom with one point from their first five matches.

Nigeria To Review Law Regulating Film Industry

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Koko Lawrence

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September 5, 2022

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The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says there is the need to review the law backing the board and movie censorship fee in Nigeria.

Adedayo Thomas, the NFVCB executive secretary, made this known at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos on Friday.

Thomas said that the NFVCB laws should be reviewed to further professionalize the creative industry, position it to be self-regulated and reduce government involvement.

“We want to work on reviewing our laws which has not been tampered with for over 20 years and this will be done soon,” he said.

The executive secretary said that the review was necessary in view of the recent notification from the Ghana Film Authority (GFA), stating that Nigerian filmmakers should always get permission before shooting movies in the country.

He, therefore, stressed that Nigeria needed to create laws that would permit foreigners to get necessary permission before shooting movies within the country.

He noted that the board would love the creative industry to be self-regulated to reduce the involvement of government.

”It has come to our notice that as an actor, movie producer, director, cinematographer, script writer and all operators in the creative space, you cannot shoot your movies in Ghana without permission from the GFA.

“A letter was sent from Ghana to all embassies and to the Minister of foreign Affairs who sent it to the Minister of Information and was passed to me.

European Union Divided Over Potential Russia Visa Ban

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Elizabeth Williams

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September 5, 2022

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European Union (EU) nations were divided over whether to slap a broad visa ban on Russian citizens, torn between a desire to ramp up pressure on President Vladimir Putin and concern about punishing people who may not even support his war on Ukraine.

The 27-nation EU already tightened visa restrictions on Russian officials and business people in May, but calls have mounted from, notably, Poland and the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — for a broader ban on tourists.

“There must be more restrictions on travel for Russian citizens,” Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said.

“We cannot simply give bonuses to people which are supporting such presidents as Putin,” he told reporters in Czech capital Prague, where EU defense and foreign ministers are meeting.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who is chairing the talks, has said that a visa ban on all Russian citizens is unlikely to be agreed on. Germany and France are leading a push to tighten visa restrictions, rather than impose an outright ban.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed support for suspending more parts of the 2007 EU agreement with Russia, and to halt the issuing of multiple-entry or multi-year visas.

Finland’s foreign minister, Pekka Haavisto, said his country is worried about a kind of Russian “tourist route” through Helsinki airport. He said Finland will unilaterally slash the granting of tourist visas to Russians to 10% of their usual number from Sept. 1.

As of Thursday, Finland, which has the longest border with Russia of all EU countries, will only allow Russian citizens to apply for tourist visas on one day a week, and only in four cities in Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Moscow was closely following the EU visa discussions and described them as part of Western moves against Russia that are “irrational and bordering on madness.” He warned that Moscow will retaliate if Russian citizens are targeted.

Frieze Art Fair Makes Asian Debut In Seoul, Tapping Hot S.Korean Market

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Koko Lawrence

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September 5, 2022

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VIP guests gathered at Seoul’s COEX convention center on Friday as the city became the first in Asia to host the Frieze Art Fair, which features works from over 110 galleries worldwide.

In a move for South Korea’s millennial-backed art market, which is set for another record year, the Fair – a closely watched showcase of major works by contemporary artists – moved for the first time beyond the confines of his traditional London, New York and Los Angeles.

“We’re thrilled to now have Seoul, the Korean art fair, as part of Frieze. We’ve definitely been missing an Asian arm,” said Simon Fox, chief executive of the Frieze group.

An art center focused on postwar and contemporary works, South Korea last year overtook Germany to rank as the fifth largest market, according to UBS Bank and Art Basel’s Art Market Report.

Sales rose 180% to a record 922 billion won ($680 million), data from the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) showed.

Reasons for the boom include a growing interest among millennials, who often see art as an investment opportunity, as well as a favorable tax regime.

A 36-year-old collector, Seoul office worker Lee Young-sang had been saving up for the much-anticipated fair, which opened to the public on Saturday.

“I’m very happy to see amazing works of … art in one place and have the opportunity to buy,” said Lee, who spends most of his disposable income on art and owns about 120 works.

Artwork worth under 60 million won is exempt from capital gains tax in South Korea, and sales tax is levied at a relatively low 22% to a maximum of 20% of the price.

Such factors “definitely encourage young collectors to make bold investments,” said tax accountant Kwon Min.

Riding that wave, at least five international galleries have opened or expanded their space in Seoul in 2021 and 2022.

They include global dealer Perrotin, which opens its second gallery space in the glitzy Gangnam district this week to coincide with the fair, and Thaddaeus Ropac, which opened its first last year.

Super Falcons confront world champions USA again

By

Emenike Agu

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September 5, 2022

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Nigeria and USA women National Senior Teams clash in Washington DC on Tuesday in the second of a two-match tour of the United States by the nine-time African champions.

Three-time world champions USA trounced the Falcons 4-0 in the two teams’ first encounter at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday, with a brace from Sophia Smith and one each by Lindsay Horan and Alex Morgan.

Both USA and Nigeria have qualified to participate at the 9^th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals to be staged by Australia and New Zealand in the summer of next year.

Tuesday’s encounter will take place at the Audi Field in Washington. Audi Field is utilized by National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit and Major League Soccer team, D. C. United and though the USWNT have played 10 times previously in Washington (all at the RFK Stadium), it is their first run-out at the Audi Field.

The game will commence at 11pm Nigeria time (6pm in Washington DC).

Meanwhile, prior to their clash with USWNT in Kansas City, the Super Falcons took time to have a ‘Meet and Greet’ session with some prominent Nigerians based in the State of Missouri, including Adeola Ajayi (ex-Nigeria basketball team player), Chioma Atanmo (Community Manager, Sporting KC), Olofu Agbaji (ex-Nigeria basketball team player), Tijani Idris (ex-Nigeria basketball team player) and David Ehindero (a U.S –based Nigerian businessman).

Also at the simple but lively session were John Allagh (ex-Nigeria basketball team player), Prince Tega (a player with NFL football team, Kansas City Chiefs), Ochai Agbaji (ex-Nigeria basketball team player) and Victor Ejelonu (CEO, My Village Grill Restaurant).

Nigeria To Pay Indian Companies $496million As Settlement Over Steel Plants

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Koko Lawrence

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September 5, 2022

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Nigeria has settled a $5.3 billion claim made by two Indian companies over the ownership and control of Ajaokuta Steel Company and other steel plants.

Nigeria’s attorney-general and justice minister Abubakar Malami said the settlement ‘rescued’ the country with about 91 percent reduction of the mediation claim from $5.258 billion to $496 million which takes effect on 19 August 2022.

The Indian companies – Global Steel Holdings and Global Infrastructure Steel with headquarters in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had an agreement with the Nigerian government in 2004 during President Olusegun Obasanjo administration for five major concessions and share purchase of Nigeria’s steel industry.

Nigeria and the companies had a fallout, leading to the revocation of the contracts in 2008 after the former accused the firm of asset stripping.

In 2016, the current government approved the execution of the modified concession agreement with Global Steel, which allowed the companies to retain the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Itakpe, Kogi State, North central Nigeria.

The completion of the steel plants was meant to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on oil and produce as much as five million tons of steel in a year by government projection but yet to produce any steel since it was built by Tyazhpromexport, a Russian company.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the completion of Ajaokuta Steel, for which construction started in 1979, a top priority when he came to power in 2015.

However, the government reneged on the agreements, leading to a legal battle involving both parties at the International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration, Paris.

Malami said the termination of the contracts in 2008 was contrary to legal advice supplied by the federal ministry of justice, which highlighted the termination cost in the form of damages.

The attorney-general explained that had the previous government not terminated the Ajaokuta share purchase agreement on April 1, 2008, and waited for 55 days, it would have terminated lawfully and the government would have collected more than $26 million from Global Steel as a settlement.

“Project Educate All”: Refugee Commission Inaugurates Library in IDPs’ School

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 5, 2022

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The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim says the commission has initiated projects to enhance learning in IDPs camps across the country.

She said that its “Project Educate All” initiative was initiated to provide access to education to displaced persons nationwide.

Suleiman-Ibrahim, who said this while interacting with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday, stressed that the initiative included the provision of libraries in primary schools.

The commissioner, who inaugurated one of such libraries at Eastern Bypass Primary School, behind Oando Filling Station in Birnin Kebbi, said that the intervention was for IDPs, migrants, refugees, returnees and people at risk of becoming stateless.

The commission also distributed food and non-food items to 500 households, mostly IDPs, in the area.

Suleiman-Ibrahim said: “This library is part of Project Educate All. Our mandate in the agency is the provision of durable solutions for all persons of concern, whenever disaster affects education.

“So, Project Educate All is tailored to improve access to learning, especially for people that are experiencing all sorts of displacements.

“It is working in terms of strengthening schools in communities where IDPs are, offering scholarship, tuition fees, payment of NECO and WAEC fees, and construction of libraries.”

The commissioner said that the library was the starting point of learning, as it helped students to discover themselves and actualise their dreams.

“This is the third library; we are still in piloting phase, we intend to work with other state governments to ensure that we replicate this across board.

“We are very ambitious, we will build many libraries as much as we can across the nation,” Suleiman-Ibrahim added.

Earlier, Executive Secretary, Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Umar Hassan appreciated the commission for providing the library and pledged to stock it with books and other resources.

Liz Truss Elected Britain’s Next Prime Minister

By

Elizabeth Williams

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September 5, 2022

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Liz Truss has been named as Britain’s next prime minister after winning a leadership race for the governing Conservative party.

Truss won the leadership contest against finance minister Rishi Sunak with a vote of 81,326 to 60,399 from Conservative Party members.

“We need to show that we will deliver over the next two years. I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy,” Truss said after the result was announced.

Foreign minister under Boris Johnson, Truss, 47, has promised to act quickly to tackle Britain’s cost of living crisis, saying that within a week she will come up with a plan to tackle rising energy bills and securing future fuel supplies.

I will deliver on the energy crisis, dealing with people’s energy bills, but also dealing with the long-term issues we have on energy supply.” Truss said.

Truss signalled during her leadership campaign that she would challenge convention by scrapping tax increases and cutting other levies in a move some economists say would fuel inflation.

That, plus a pledge to review the remit of the Bank of England while protecting its independence, has prompted some investors to dump the pound and government bonds.

Truss will become the Conservatives’ fourth prime minister since a 2015 election.

Over that period the country has been buffeted from crisis to crisis, and now faces what is forecast to be a long recession triggered by sky-rocketing inflation which hit 10.1% in July.

Truss faces a long, costly and difficult to-do list, which opposition lawmakers say is the result of 12 years of poor Conservative government. Several have called for an early election – something Truss has said she will not allow.

Kano Govt Issues N1bn For Girls’ Education Related Projects Says Official

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 5, 2022

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The Kano State Government has so far released over N1.02 billion for girls’ education related projects in its 2022 budget.

The Co-chair, Girl Education Partnership, an NGO, Mairo Bello, made this known in Kano Saturday, at the dissemination of the State 2022 girl education budget performance with citizens and relevant stakeholders.

The dissemination was supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), a governance programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Bello explained that while N868.6 million was released for girls’ specific budget lines, N155.5 million were released for both boys and girls related education projects.

She said that of the N868.6 million, N32.9 million was for feeding, N116.6 million for transitional examination, N177.6 million for National Examination Council, and N90 million for National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies examination.

Others, she said, included N12 million for the State Agency for Mass Education, while N132 million was released for renovations of girls’ secondary schools.

She added that N12.5 million was also released for repairs of shuttle buses for transportation of girls to school, under the state’s Girl Education Project.

She particularly commended the state government for the release of 12.5 million for the repair of 20 shuttle buses for the transportation of girls to schools within the metropolitan towns of the state.

She explained that the development was the result of consistent advocacy to government agencies by citizens groups to push for increased investment on girls’ education.

“This is a milestone for us, because the shuttle buses will support in transporting girls from poor households to school at no cost.

“This will significantly increase girls’ access to education by removing transportation and distance barriers.

“It also provides security as a safety measure by taking the girls from their homes to school and returning them back to their houses safely.

“This, in the long run, will increase girls’ school enrolment, retention, transition, and completion,” she said.

She said that an analysis of the 2021 budget supported by PERL, shows that only three per cent of the total state budget was specific to girls’ interventions.

This, she said, prompted the citizens group to conduct series of advocacies to relevant government agencies to increase budgetary allocation for specific girls’ education interventions.

According to her, the advocacy yielded significant results with the creation of budget lines for girls’ education projects in the state.

Bello added that one of the budget lines was N20 million for the purchase of 10 shuttle buses for Girl Education within eight metropolitan local government areas and repair of 20 grounded vehicles for the girl education project.

“Another budget line was N20 million for the construction of and rehabilitation of toilets for children and students with special needs in girls’ schools across the three Senatorial Zones in the state.

“A total of N50 million was also allocated to enhance inclusive education for girls with disabilities across the state and N120 million for the recruitment of female teachers for basic and secondary schools.

“Similarly, N15 million was allocated for the construction of blocks of classrooms, provision of furniture, instructional materials, and supply of buses for girls in primary and secondary schools,” she said.

Bello also revealed that a memo for the release of N100 million for the recruitment of female teachers and N19.6 million for the renovation of toilet facilities in girls’ schools were being processed for releases.

Earlier, PERL State Partnership Facilitator in the state, Hajara Suleiman, said that the objective of the meeting was to provide an overview and update on the girl education budget.

She added that the meeting was also organised to disseminate findings from the relevant ministries, departments and agencies with girl specific education projects.

BREAKING: Supreme Court Confirms Ruto’s Victory in Kenya’s Presidential Vote

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 5, 2022

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Kenya’s Supreme Court on Monday upheld results declaring William Ruto winner of last month’s presidential elections.

55-year-old Ruto, won with 50.49% of the vote against his rival Raila Odinga’s 48.85%, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced in August.

The announcement of the results then descended into chaos in an otherwise peaceful election process when four members of the electoral commission rejected them, declaring the tallying “opaque.”

77-year-old Odinga, later disputed the results in the Supreme Court alleging that hackers had accessed the electoral body’s website, deducted his votes and added them to Ruto’s, among other claims of irregularities.

His party, the Azimio La Umoja (Aspiration to Unite) coalition, claimed it had enough evidence in the petition to prove misconduct by the electoral commission after the August 9 election.

However, the Supreme Court rejected his claims and upheld the results announced by the IEBC.

Chief Justice Martha Koome, delivering the ruling Monday, said the court found no evidence of tampering of results via hacking and that the “IEBC carried out the verification, tallying, and declaration of results in accordance with the provided constitutional law.”

Security was tight ahead of the announcement and Kenya’s security forces are on high alert in areas of the country where violence could break out.

Odinga’s legal team had asked the court to either declare him winner or order a re-election.

This is Odinga’s fifth time running and his third time challenging his loss in presidential elections through the Supreme Court, having filed a case after the last two elections in 2013 and 2017.