Russian billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich, who owns English Premier League soccer club Chelsea, has accepted a Ukrainian request to help negotiate an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich was asked by Ukraine to help mediate because of his background in Russia, where he made a fortune in the chaotic 1990s period of post-communist privatisation, a source with knowledge of the matter told the media in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on condition of anonymity.
Word of Abramovich’s involvement in talks on the conflict first came from the Jewish News, which said Kyiv had reached out through Jewish contacts to seek his help.
“I can confirm Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since,” a spokeswoman for Abramovich said.
“Considering what is at stake, we would ask for understanding as to why we have not commented on either the situation as such or his involvement.”
Oleksandr Usyk has enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Isyk has enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence in a heroic bid to protect his homeland after Russia launched its devastating invasion, with the heavyweight even pictured toting a large machine gun.
Both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko have also joined the military to face up to the Russian forces, with the latter having served as the major of the country’s capital Kyiv since 2014 and made an appeal for other nations to help stop the bloodshed.
They have now been joined by Usyk who, before heading back to Ukraine, was negotiating with Anthony Joshua after stripping away his titles last year. That rematch may even be placed on hold due to the crisis in eastern Europe.
This morning, a Twitter account created to provide updates on the conflict, shared a picture showing Usyk alongside three other soldiers. The boxer was even dressed up in full military gear and was clutching a large gun while looking into the camera.
‘Oleksandr Usyk also enrolled in the SAR,’ the post said.
The Munich Philharmonic has dismissed chief conductor Valery Gergiev with immediate effect as he did not respond to calls to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the mayor of the southern German city said on Tuesday.
Gergiev, who is seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s friend and who conducted an orchestra in the ruins of Syria’s Palmyra in 2016 to celebrate Russia’s victory there, was also shunned by La Scala and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra on Monday.
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter had asked Gergiev to “clearly and unequivocally distance himself from the brutal war of aggression that Putin is waging against Ukraine” in a letter, but the conductor did not respond, Reiter said in a statement.
“I would have expected him to reconsider and revise his very positive assessment of the Russian ruler. He did not do that,” the mayor said.
Former Liverpool defender Rigobert Song has been confirmed as the new Cameroon head coach on the orders of the country’s president, Paul Biya.
The 45-year-old replaces Toni Conceicao, who led the national team to a third – placed finish at January’s African Cup if Nations.
Song is the country’s most capped player, making 137 appearances for the Indomitable Lions.
A statement said Cameroon needed “a new breath”.
“On very high instructions from the President of the Republic, the coach of the men’s national football team, Mr Antonio Conceicao, has been replaced by Rigobert Song,” Camerouns’s sports minister Narosse Nourelle said.
“The Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) is invited to take the necessary measures for a rapid and harmonious implementation of these very high directives.”
The appointment would be unusual because Fifa rules require any member association to be independent and avoid any form of political interference.
Conceicao had led Cameroon to World Cup qualifying play-offs and they will play Algeria in a two-legged tie in March for a place at Qatar 2022.
Song, who also played for West Ham in England and had spells in France, Italy, Germany and Turkey during his playing career, also featured at four World Cups and won the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations titles.
He was most recently the coach of the Cameroon Under-21 side. In 2016 Song suggered a cerebral haemorhage and had to be evacuated to France for treatment.
Song will be assisted by the former Congo-Brazzaville, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea coach Sebastien Migne. The Frenchman, whose most recent job was at South African club Marumo Gallants, led Kenya to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt
The Technical teamalso includes for internationals Souleymanou Haminou as goalkeeper coach and Raymond Kalla as team manager.
It is unclear whether the statement from Cameroon’s sports ministry about the change in coaching staff was simply confirmation of a request from Fecafoot or a directive to the body led by Samuel Eto’o.
Conceicao was the Cameroon coach when Eto’o was elected as Fecafoot president in December, less than a month before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
The Portuguese coach’s job was questioned after the hosts lost to Egypt on penalties in the semi-finals but a dramatic third-placed finish seemed to ease the pressure on him.
However just three weeks later Conceicao has lost his job to be replaced by Eto’o’s former international team-mate Song with the phrase “On very high instructions from the President of the Republic…” in a letter from the ministry causing controversy.
Fifa frowns on government interference in football but the appointment of coaches – especially across Africa – is often a bit of a grey area since the majority of associations rely on the government to pay at least part, if not all, of the salaries for technical teams.
The governing bodies usually recruit the coaches but need the ministry’s approval for the contracts offered, and often to cover the compensation for anyone who is sacked before the end of their deal.
Russian football clubs and national teams have been suspended from all competitions by Fifa and Uefa after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The world and European football governing bodies said they would be banned “until further notice”.
It means the Russian men’s team will not play their World Cup play-off matches next month and the women’s team have been banned from this summer’s Euro 2022 competition.
Spartak Moscow have also been kicked out of the Europa League and their last-16 opponents RB Leipzig will advance to the quarter-finals.
Uefa has also ended its sponsorship with Russian energy giant Gazprom.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” Fifa and Uefa said in a joint statement.
“Both presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”
Fifa and Uefa intervened after Russia, supported by Belarus, launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last Thursday.
The Russian men’s team had been scheduled to face Poland in a World Cup play-off semi-final on 24 March.
Russian football’s governing body, the RFU, said it “categorically disagreed” with the decision and would challenge it “in accordance with international sports law”. Spartak Moscow called the decision “upsetting” tweeting.
“We believe that sport, even in the most difficult times, should aim to build bridges, and not burn them.”
Fifa had previous rules that Russia must complete their upcoming games in neutral territory, under the title Football Union of Russia, and without their flag and anthem.
However, that announcement had drawn criticism – and Scotland and the Republic of Ireland joined several other nations, including England, Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, in refusing to play against Russia.
On Monday, Scottish FA president Rod Petrie wrote to his Ukrainian counterpart: : to send a message of support , friendship and unity with those two nations due to meet in their World Cup play-off semi-final on 24 March.
The 2022 Champions League final, originally due to be played in St Petersburg on 28 May has been moved , to Paris while numerous clubs have taken their own steps to disassociate themselves from Russia.
Manchester United has terminated its sponsrhip deal with Russia’s national airline Aeroflot while Bundesliga club Schalke has cancelled its partnership with main sponsor Gazprom, having last week removed the Russian energy company’s logo from its shirts. has terminated its sponsorship
Russia are in Northern Ireland’s European Under-21 Championship qualifying group and their meeting in March will be cancelled.
Speaking on Monday, Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said: “The whole world has to be compact and show [it is] solid against the stupidity of the people.”
He added: “I think it’s right to express our disappointment about the stupidity about some decisions. Football and Uefa has to be compact and to show to be strong.”
‘Other sports will follow football’s lead’ – analysis
This is the strongest move yet taken by the international football community.
Russia is rapidly being reduced to the status of international sporting pariah. Of course this comes after Fifa was accused of not going far enough on Sunday instead allowing Russia to continue playing as ‘RFU’ with a ban on its flag and anthem.
The IOC heaped pressure on football by recommending that all sports enforce a total ban on Russia and Belarus.
This will undeniably prompt other sports to follow football’s lead.
There will also be those who say that the IOC could have gone further and say that ‘this is a decision, we are commanding all sports to ban Russian athletes’.
Whether they thought they had grounds to do so, legally, is another matter.
Some will also point to the Sochi 2014 Games and World Cup 2018 that Putin’s Russia was able to host and ask if this is all too late.
Bans needed to protect integrity of global sport – IOC
The IOC says it is urging sport governing bodies to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes “in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants”, adding that “the current war in Ukraine puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma”.
It said there had been a “breach of the Olympic Truce” by those countries’ governments.
“While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country,” an IOC statement read.
The International Paralympic Committee is to meet on Wednesday to discuss Russia, with the Winter Paralympics set to start two days later, running from 4-13 March.
The British Paralympic committee has called on Russians and Belarussians to be kicked out of the Games.
The British Olympic Association, along with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Germany, has demanded the immediate exclusion of Russia and Belarus from international sport.
The IOC said in their recommendations that wherever it was not possible to ban them from competing for organisational or legal reasons, such athletes should not compete under the name Russia or Belarus and should be classed as neutrals.
The Russian Olympic Committee has disagreed with the IOC, saying the decision “contradicts both the regulatory documents of the IOC and the [Olympic] Charter”.
What else is happening in sport?
The Russian Grand Prix is closely associated with President Vladimir Putin
The Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix, due to take place on 25 September in Sochi, was cancelled last week.
The sport’s governing body, the FIA, will meet on Tuesday to “discuss matters relating to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine”.
World Rugby has suspended Russia and Belarus from international and cross-border competition “until further notice”.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” said chairman Bill Beaumont.
On Friday, it was announced by Rugby Europe that all fixtures on Russian soil would be suspended, a move endorsed by the world governing body.
However the Russian women’s team played away in Spain on Saturday in the Rugby Europe Championship (REC), without their flag or national anthem
Russia men’s home fixture with the Netherlands next month in the REC had already been postponed and they were also due to play away fixture in Portugal on 19 March.
Badminton’s world governing body (BWF) responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by announcing the cancellation of all tournaments in Russia and Belarus in addition to banning the national flags and anthems of the two nations.
“BWF will continue to monitor the situation closely and will proactively consult our international sport movement partners to discuss other options to potentially strengthen measures against the governments of Russia and Belarus,” it said.
The Ukrainian Tennis Federation has called on the sport’s governing body, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), to expel Russia and Belarus from the organisation and ban Russia from individual and team tournaments.
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina has said she will refuse to play Russian or Belarusian players until they are classed as ‘neutral athletes’.
The world number 15 is due to play Anastasia Potopova of Russia at this week’s Monterrey Open but has threatened to withdraw unless the Women’s Tennis Association takes action.
Russian Daniil Medvedev, who became the ATP’s world number one on Monday, said he wanted to promote “peace all over the world” in a news conference on Friday during the Mexican Open.
The ITF said: “This is a fast-evolving situation; we are in active discussion with the ITF tennis family and the ITF board to decide and align around our next course of action.”
The International Equestrian Federation has announced it will remove international events from Russia and Belarus and stop athletes and officials from both countries from participating in all competitions.
Ice hockey‘s governing body, the IIHF, has suspended all Russian and Belarusian national teams and clubs from all of its competitions and events.
It has also taken the 2023 World Junior Championship away from Russia.
At the Fencing World Cup in Cairo on Sunday, Ukraine’s men’s foil team refused to fence against Russia.
Ukraine’s Klod Younes told BBC Radio 5 Live that he and his team-mates now intend to return home and defend their country.
“I knew before the competition [that I would not fence against them]. I told my team-mates and they supported me and said they would do the same,” Younes said.
On whether he and his team-mates will fight if necessary, he added: “Of course. This is our country. This is my country. I have to fight for it. I am defending my territory.”
On Monday, the UK government’s Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston met with several British sport governing bodies – including the Premier League, Football Association, UK Sport and British Olympic Association – to discuss the Ukraine situation.
The government has urged sports to continue with “visible signs of solidarity” with Ukraine and says it plans to talk with international counterparts later this week to mobilise further support to ostracise Russia from international sport.
Tens of thousands of Nigerian, Ghanaian, Iraqis, Algerian, Indian and other foreign students studying abroad in Ukraine are desperately calling for support from their governments as Russia’s invasion escalates.
At least two students — one from India and another from Algeria — have been killed in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which witnessed some of the heaviest shelling on Monday.
India’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Arindam Bagchi, said in a tweet: “With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family.”
Bagchi added that the Indian foreign secretary is calling on the ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to help ensure “urgent safe passage for Indian nationals” stuck in Kharkiv and other conflict areas in Ukraine.
Other students claim they have been abandoned by their home countries and that they have not been offered help, with relatives of those stranded in Ukraine heading to local embassies to demand support.
An estimated 10,000 students from across the Arab world are enrolled at Ukrainian universities, and African students reportedly make up 20 percent of international students. Many are attracted to Ukraine for its affordable education, while others choose Europe as a haven away from violence and troubles playing out at home.
The official website for international students studying in Ukraine could not be accessed by Post reporters as of Monday morning. An error message said the site was “unreachable.”
Stranded Indian students have issued desperate appeals on social media for help in being evacuated, as the government steps up efforts to bring them back via neighboring countries such as Romania and Hungary.
Dozens of students, often on foot, have walked to the borders in snow without much food and water. So far, at least six evacuation flights have brought back hundreds of students.
But for those stranded in the eastern part of the country where fighting has intensified, there is currently no way out.
On Tuesday, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine advised all its citizens, including students, to leave Kyiv urgently by train or any other means.
According to the Indian Embassy in Kyiv, about 18,000 Indian students are enrolled in Ukrainian universities, primarily studying medicine.
Zimbabwe has enacted a policy of paying teachers’ salaries based on their experience and qualifications which will be implemented with immediate effect while Treasury has set aside $160 million for the exercise.
In an interview, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima said the grading system was meant to motivate teachers who had dedicated themselves to educating the nation.
Prof Mavima said the decompression of salaries was part of the package that was authorised by President Emmerson Mnangagwa following engagements with unions.
He said Government had committed to the exercise as Treasury had already set aside some funds.
Those who have acquired higher qualifications should be equally recognised by the service.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive officer, Sifiso Ndlovu, said teachers were back at work while engagement with Government continues.
Ndlovu said teachers should approach nearby Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education district officers and submit documents that prove they have upgraded so that the information is captured.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it has registered 236, 206 candidates within the first eight days of the commencement of the registration for the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Direct Entry (DE) programme.
According to the examination body, the record is a huge improvement when compared to its experience in 2021 when it said only 102,221 candidates were successfully registered within the same period.
In its Monday bulletin, The Board’s head of media and public relations, Dr Fabian Benjamin, noted that the new development is an indication that its partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on the mandatory use of the National Identity Numbers (NIN) by prospective candidates is yielding the desired results.
JAMB said unlike in 2019 when it had to abruptly suspend the mandatory use of NIN by candidates due to complaints, the reintroduction of the policy in 2020, has helped to significantly curb examination malpractices.
The statistics provided by JAMB in its bulletin indicated that on the first day of the registration in 2021, only 17 candidates successfully procured the required personal identification number (PIN) but none successfully registered.
However, on the first day of registration in 2022, a total of 13,000 prospective candidates had already procured PINs while 5,846 successfully registered.
Meanwhile, JAMB said within the first eight days of registration commencement in 2021, a total of 117,314 successfully procured their PINs while 102,221 were successfully registered But in the ongoing processes, a total of 236,206 candidates have been successfully registered.
Meanwhile, the examination body said it has approved the constitution of a management committee to monitor the ongoing registration exercise nationwide.
It added that apart from the UTME and DE registration, the accredited computer-based test centres have also been approved to register candidates for the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), part-time, sandwich and distance learning programmes, and that proper monitoring would be required to address likely issues of malpractices.
The examination added ”To ensure that the candidates and the public get quality services and are not extorted, the Board would be monitoring the 2 0 2 2 UTME /DE registration exercise, as well as assess how the centres are shouldering the added responsibility.
“The exercise is part of the Board’s resolve to ensure that its agents play according to the rules as anyone found wanting would be delisted. Furthermore, the centres were also charged to refrain from charging above the regulated fees.”
The Oloja of Lagos, Abiola Kosoko, has appealed to the federal and state governments to declare his late forefather’s 161-year-old building, constructed by the British government, a tourist site.
Kosoko, a descendant of the late King Kosoko of Lagos, appealed at a news conference held at Kosoko palace in Lagos Island.
According to reports, the paramount ruler is also a tourism consultant and owner of Ikorodu- based Origin Gardens and Zoo.
King Kosoko was the Oba of Lagos between 1845 and 1851. His insistence on the slave trade was the pretext for the 1851 British bombardment of Lagos, for which he went into exile in Epe.
He said the briefing was also to notify the public of the remembrance of his late father, who died 150 years ago and celebrate his first anniversary as the Oloja of Lagos.
The building, situated in the heart of Lagos Island, remains architecturally strong, with all the relics and artefacts of the late king intact.
Kosoko described the building as historical, which the country should never forget and neglect, saying that it was one of the oldest buildings in Nigeria.
“In a bid to improve tourism in our society, this kind of building should be publicised to attract more visitors. Therefore, we will be inviting the ministry of tourism to visit the place.
“I have sent a letter to National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), but they didn’t believe this place still exists.
“They believe Lagos Island is strictly a commercial area and that such a building might have been demolished for businesses, but the truth is that it remains, and King kosoko was buried here.
“This building was built by the British for King Kosoko to bring commercial spirit back to life in Lagos Island, and all his relics remain in this place.
“The moment we are done with the renovation, we will seal our partnership and formal presentation with the state government and UNESCO, “he said.
Kosoko urged Nigerians both home and abroad to patronise their country’s tourist centres rather than neglecting them.
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Ghana has cancelled or withheld the results of a total of 441 candidates who sat for the 2021 edition of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) over examination malpractices.
The subject results of 138 candidates were cancelled for either sending foreign materials into the examination hall or colluding with other candidates.
A statement issued by the Council to announce provisional results of the examination said the entire results of 46 candidates were cancelled for either sending mobile phones into the examination hall or impersonation.
A statement signed and issued by Head of Legal Department of WAEC, Rev. Victor Brew, revealed that the subject results of 148 candidates and the entire results of 109 candidates had been withheld pending the conclusion of investigations into various cases of alleged examination malpractice.
According to WAEC, the decision to withhold or cancel the results of some candidates followed the conduct of investigations into cases of examination malpractice detected during the conduct of the examination.
It said the sanctions were approved at the 32nd Meeting of the Final Awards and Examiners’ Appointment Committee for the BECE held on February 22 2022.
The statement said the Council would dispatch the results to the schools through the Metropolitan/Municipal/District Directors of Education, but in the meantime, the Council has hosted the results online and candidates who desire may access their results on the WAEC website.
Giving statistics on the examination, it said a total of 572,167 candidates made up of 287,730 males and 284,437 females wrote the exams.
It said 61 had visual impairment; 321 hearing impairment while 86 had special assessment needs due to other conditions.
The total entry figure was 7.61 per cent higher than the 2020 entry of 531,707 whereas in all 18,028 schools presented candidates for the examination, which was administered at 2,158 centers.
According to the statement, out of the total number of candidates who registered, 7,315 (1.28 per cent) were absent.
The Council expressed gratitude to stakeholders especially the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, the security agencies, supervisors, invigilators, examiners for their support in the successful conduct of the examination and release of results.
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